Heart of The Civil War Heritage Area

Grants and Other Benefits

Nonprofit organizations and local government units within the certified boundaries of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area are eligible to apply for two types of matching grants: Project grants awarded by the Maryland Heritage Area Authority (MHAA) and Mini-grants awarded by the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area (HCWHA) Advisory Board. All are matching grant programs. The MHAA grant awards may be as high as $50,000 for non-capital projects or $100,000 for capital projects. Mini-grants range from $500 to $2,500. Proposals should align with the goals and priorities described in the HCWHA Management Plan. Typically, the MHAA grants have a late February deadline each year, while there may be 2-3 mini-grant rounds in a given year.

Other heritage area benefits include access to low interest loans (for profits may apply), revnue bonds, and state income tax credits (in some cases these are even possible for non-historic structures).

The first step in assessing whether a project is a "fit" for one of these opportunities is to determine its relevance to the HCWHA management plan and to verify the project's location within the certified boundaries of the heritage area. For details, contact the heritage area director.