Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Awards Matching Grants Totaling $310,000 to Local Heritage Organizations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 13, 2016

Annapolis, MD: Four Rivers: The Heritage Area of Annapolis, London Town & South County joins the Hogan Administration in announcing 5 new grants totaling $310,000 to local Annapolis and Anne Arundel County non-profit organizations by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA). The 5 local grants are among 52 matching grants totaling $2.69 million, that were awarded to Maryland non-profits, local jurisdictions and other heritage tourism organizations including museums, and historic preservation, natural resources, cultural, and educational organizations. These grant funds support heritage tourism projects, historic preservation, natural resource protection and educational programs and activities that expand economic development and tourism-related job creation. MHAA oversees Maryland’s system of 13 locally-administered, State-certified Heritage Areas, which are places to experience – see, hear and even taste – the authentic heritage of Maryland in a unique way that cannot be experienced anywhere else.

These grants, given for the last 19 years, produce economic activity in areas that contribute to Maryland’s cultural heritage. By supporting capital projects and educational activities, the grants stimulate interest in Maryland culture from residents and visitors. “Maryland’s Heritage Areas help celebrate and preserve the best of our history, cultural traditions, and natural areas,” said Governor Larry Hogan. “I congratulate Maryland’s 13 Heritage Areas and their tourism partners on these grant awards. This important funding makes our communities more livable and vibrant, while fostering economic activity and growth through our rich tourism industry.”

Funded projects in the Four Rivers Heritage Area include:
• Capital grant to Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, Inc., “Improved Public Access for the Arts-Exterior Doors and Entranceways,” $80,000
• Capital grant to Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, “Sellman House Rehabilitation for Visitor Orientation Center,” $80,000
• Non-Capital grant to Annapolis Maritime Museum, Inc., “AMM’s Exhibit: ‘White Gold: Fishing and Farming the Maryland Oyster’,” $25,000
• Marketing grant to Four Rivers Heritage Area, in partnership with Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, $25,000.

In addition, Four Rivers received a Management grant for $100,000, making a total of $310,000 in MHAA funding to the Four Rivers Heritage Area for FY17, for projects totaling more than $1.8 million. The Management grant to the Four Rivers Heritage Area supports activities such as the annual mini-grants program, the annual heritage awards, regional interpreter training, networking meetings for site directors and managers, educational workshops, online resources, and new collaborative initiatives.

Please visit http://planning.maryland.gov/pdf/press/2016-0712-PressRelease-FY17-MHA-Grants.pdf for a complete list of grant recipients statewide. Download this Four Rivers Press Release about the grants here: FY17 MHAA Grants to Four Rivers — Press Release. For more information, visit the Four Rivers website at www.chesapeakecrossroads.org, or contact Executive Director Carol Benson at 410-222-1805.