Hughesville, MD – The Executive Director and the Board of Directors of the Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium are pleased to announce the Maryland Heritage Area Authority Grant Awards for the Southern Maryland Region. These awards usher in a new level of granting to the region, with $329,157.00 awarded to significant heritage tourism projects within Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s County.  These grants constitute a project total of over $800,000 towards innovative tourism, excellence in cultural and natural resource conservation, and unique educational opportunities.

Grants were awarded to: 

St. Mary’s College of Maryland – $30,000     
“Commemorating Our Shared History:  Slavery in Southern Maryland”
Annmarie Sculpture Gardens and Art Center – $72,577
“Tree-mendous Nature Trail & Pavilion”
Calvert Marine Museum – $50,000
“Solomons, A Water Community”
Smallwood State Park – $12,5000
“Condition Assessment of the John Grinder House”
Patuxent River Naval Air Museum – $48,080.00
“Exhibits Phase II”
Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum – $10,000
“Interactive and Educational Components for the Smithsonian’s H2O Today Exhibition”
Calvert Nature Society – $20,000
“Assessing a Cypress Barn”
Southern Maryland Heritage Area Consortium – $86,000
(Partnering with the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland and
Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties)
“Fiscal Year 2019 Management Grant for the Southern Maryland Heritage Area”

These grants represent a new level of funding for the region and reflect the doubling of funds available to the Maryland Heritage Area Authority this year.  Organizations receiving grant awards throughout the State of Maryland include museums, parks, educational organizations and many other entities that protect and celebrate the unique qualities of each of the 13 Maryland Heritage Areas.

These grant funds support projects and activities that attract visitors and increase product development in the region.  The Southern Maryland Heritage Area shepherds the state level granting through their office before it is presented to the Maryland Heritage Area Authority Commission.  These grants have the capacity for $50,000 for non-capital projects and $100,000 for capital projects. 

Additionally, the Southern Maryland Heritage Area supports a smaller grant program directly from their office with grants up to $5,000 for regional heritage tourism projects.  The new round of these local grants will be made available August 14, 2018 and will be due into the Southern Maryland Heritage Area office by September 14, 2018. 

An award ceremony for the Southern Maryland grant awardees will be held in early December.