Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area: Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
Visitor Center. Courtesy of Dorchester County Tourism.
Financial incentives for the Maryland Heritage Areas Program are awarded by the
Maryland Heritage Areas Authority
(MHAA). To apply, an applicant must meet the following criteria:
- Be a non-profit in good standing with Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation, a local
jurisdiction, or state/federal agency AND
- Are planning a project that takes place within the boundaries of a certified heritage area
Grants
Eligible Activities
MHAA provides grants to nonprofit organizations and government entities
for capital and non-capital projects located within a certified heritage area. All grants require a
one-to-one matching contribution from grantees. For example, a $15,000 grant requires a $15,000 matching
contribution (cash and/or in-kind). Funding supports heritage-related projects that create and/or enhance
publicly accessible place-based experiences related to tourism, community enhancement, and/or
sustainability. Full details are available in the
MHAA project grant guidelines.
Non-Capital. Grants of up to $50,000, with a required one-to-one match of non-state
support, are available for non-capital projects, which can include Planning
(research, field investigation, data recovery, feasibility and planning studies, design documents
and other planning activities that support the heritage area); Interpretation
(exhibits, signage, pedestrian wayfinding signage, interpretive brochures, educational programs
and materials, other interpretive activities that support the heritage area); and
Programming (seminars, conferences, performances, reenactments, commemorations,
festivals).
Capital. Grants of up to $100,000, with a required one-to-one match of non-state support,
are available for capital projects, which can include Acquisition (fee title of real
property, interest other than fee title (i.e. easement) of real property); Development
(repair or alteration of an existing building, structure or site, new construction for heritage
tourism purposes); Rehabilitation (returning a property to a state of utility);
Restoration (accurately depicting a property as it appeared at a particular period of
time, removal of features from another time period, reconstruction of missing features from the
restoration period); and Pre-Development (plans and specifications, fees for
architectural design and engineering).
Information for certified heritage areas about management, marketing,
and block grants can be found here.
Loans
Loans are available to nonprofit organizations, local jurisdictions,
individuals and businesses to assist with the preservation of
heritage tourism resources and the enhancement of heritage attractions and visitor services located
within a Heritage Area. The maximum loan commitment made for any specific project is limited by
available funds. Up to 50 percent of the total project cost will be provided based on an assessment
of the applicant’s financial need. Refinancing will not be considered part of the project cost.
Eligible Activities
Acquisition (fee title of real property, interest other than fee title (i.e.
easement) of real property); Development (repair or alteration of an existing
building, structure or site, new construction for heritage tourism purposes); Rehabilitation
(returning a property to a state of utility); Restoration (accurately depicting a
property as it appeared at a particular period of time, removal of features from another time
period, reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period); Leasehold
improvements (rehabilitation, restoration, or minor new construction activities are eligible
uses if the term of the lease is at least equal to the term of the loan); and Purchase of
equipment, furnishings, inventory.
Tax Credits
In addition to grants and loans, heritage tourism projects may also qualify for special tax credits.
Within certified heritage area boundaries, a Maryland Historic Revitalization Tax Credit of up to
20% of the eligible costs of rehabilitation may be available for:
- historic structures that are eligible for, but not listed on the National Register of Historic
Places; or
- non-historic structures that have been certified by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority as
contributing to the significance of the certified heritage area; or
- properties that are listed individually or contributing to the National Register of Historic
Places
These Maryland Heritage Area Program benefits are in addition to the more standard tax credits offered
by the state for qualified rehabilitation work on qualified historic structures. For full details,
please visit the Maryland Historic Revitalization
Tax Credit Program page.
