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New “WILD” grant program will focus on the restoration and conservation of wetlands and streamside forest buffers, as well as community engagement and outdoor recreation The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) today announced that the recently passed Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 includes a first-year funding of $4 million for a new grant program to support fish and wildlife, climate resiliency, and equitable access to the outdoors in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.Grant proposals are now being accepted for the new Chesapeake...

Four Rivers Heritage Area is pleased to announce a webinar on Interpretive Signage that will take place via zoom on March 8 at 3 p.m. Entitled, "Interpretive Signage Projects: Beginner to Advanced," the webinar will feature panelists David J. Guiney (Interpretive Direction, LLC), Jane Cox (Anne Arundel County Cultural Resources Section), Marcie Taylor-Thoma (Maryland Council for Civic and History Education), Janice Hayes-Williams (Anne Arundel County Dept. of Recreation and Parks), and Andrew Arvizu (Maryland Heritage Areas Program). SAVE THE DATE of Tuesday, March 8 at 3 p.m. via zoom, FREE. All are...

From our partners at Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County: "Our Black History 365 landing page is live! Thanks to everyone that submitted events and provided valuable feedback. Stay tuned: we'll be updating the page with a 60-second video we shot earlier this week with Banneker-Douglass Museum's Executive Director Chanel Compton that talks about the project and the primary stakeholders involved. "What we ask from you: please share the social posts about the new initiative via your social accounts! This is a great new partnership and the more partners and organizations who...

Interpretive-Signage-Guidelines-AACO-CR-11.2020Download Our colleague Jane Cox (Administrator, Cultural Resources Section, Historic Preservation Program for Anne Arundel County Dept. of Planning and Zoning), shared these Guidelines with us, saying, "With our Interpretive Signs program, we have developed standards for design for historic interpretive signs on County properties (attached here) and we welcome anyone to use these guidelines...

The MHAA Grant Round for FY2023 is underway! But there is still time to start an application. At a meeting today (January 13th), MHAA staff stated that fewer Intents have been received than are usually submitted by this date, but more applications than ever are expected this year! Please remember that the Intent to Apply must by submitted by Friday, January 28 in order to apply. Please call the heritage area Executive Director, Carol Benson, at 410-627-6018 to discuss your project. Thanks! Read more here. ...

Four Rivers is pleased to announce our new name as part of our rebranding process! We have selected the name "Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area" as our new name! Many thanks to all our stakeholders who have participated in our process to help us reach this point! The name Chesapeake Crossroads is highly resonant for our Board and staff, and may be for you all as well. There are crossroads, past and present, in our area whose stories should be told. Crossroads connotates much more than crossings, of which we have many: Bay...

Do you know a preservation project or professional deserving of statewide recognition? Nominations are now open for Maryland Historical Trust's 47th annual Maryland Preservation Awards. Read on for more information! The Maryland Preservation Awards, presented annually by the Board of Trustees of the Maryland Historical Trust, are the highest level of recognition for historic preservation, heritage education, and community development projects in Maryland. The awards honor and celebrate significant achievements by individuals, businesses, contractors, non-profit organizations, local governments, and others who protect, promote, share, and give continued life to the...

Many people may be wondering how to check whether their heritage site or proposed project is located within the heritage area's approved boundaries (these were expanded in April 2021). Here is the tool to use! Go to Medusa, Maryland's Cultural Resources Information System, https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/ In the left sidebar, click on "Layers". One of the choices is "Other MHT Base Data." Click on the arrow to the right within this box. Wait until the sublayer "Maryland Heritage Areas" is visible, then click that box to select this layer. Wait until the heritage area names...

Important news! MHAA has announced the job posting for the position: Administrative Manager I Administrator, Maryland Heritage Areas Program Recruitment #21-005237-0002 The Administrator, in coordination with the program governing board, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, directs, manages, and supervises the activities of the Maryland Heritage Areas Program.  This position supports the mission of the agency by encouraging economic development through the protection and enhancement of historical, cultural, and natural resources that support heritage tourism activities statewide. This is a Special Appointment position, and serves at the pleasure of the Appointing Authority. The filing...