CROWNSVILLE – The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), an agency of the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP), is accepting applications for fiscal year 2007 grants under the MHT Historic Preservation and Museum Assistance Grant Programs. These grant programs are funded through the DMHT Grant Fund and include grants for capital historic preservation and museum advancement.
Nonprofit organizations and local jurisdictions may apply for Historic Preservation Grants to fund capital projects. Business entities and individuals may also apply for Capital Historic Preservation Grants when preservation of the property serves a high public purpose. Eligible projects include the acquisition, rehabilitation, or restoration of historic property in Maryland.
Nonprofit museums and those museums operated by local governments that have been in operation for at least three years may apply for Museum Advancement Grants. There are three types of Museum Advancement Grants, including Education and Planning Grants that support long range planning activities, Museum Project Challenge Grants that support museum projects, and Museum Enhancement Challenge Grants that support program enhancements based on a percentage of operating budgets.
Completed applications for Capital Historic Preservation Grants are due on December 9, 2005. Museum Advancement Grant applicants must first submit an “Intention to Apply” form, which is due on December 9, 2005. Completed applications for Museum Advancement Grants are due on March 31, 2006. The project selection process will begin in spring 2006 and grant awards will be announced in early fall 2006. The maximum grant award for Capital Historic Preservation Grants is $50,000.
A dollar-for-dollar match is required of local jurisdictions, individuals, and business entities for capital grants. Nonprofit organizations are not required to provide a match for the historic preservation grant programs; however, those projects that do include funding from other sources will be more competitive in the grant selection process. Applicants for Museum Project Challenge Grants and Museum Enhancement Challenge Grants must provide a dollar-for-dollar match. Matching funds are desired, but not required, for Education and Planning Grants.
MHT funding priorities for FY 2007 include an emphasis on the application of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, National Register significance of the property, and consistency with MHT’s goals of encouraging heritage resource protection and increasing public awareness and appreciation of Maryland’s architectural, archeological, or cultural heritage.
For information, applications, and copies of the open project selection criteria, applicants may contact MHT staff Claudette Sherman for capital projects at 410-514-7633 and csherman@mdp.state.md.us, or Mary Alexander for Museum Advancement Grants at 410-514-7622 and malexander@mdp.state.md.us. Applicants also may write to the Maryland Historical Trust at the Maryland Department of Planning, 100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21032-2023. Applications are available from the Internet also at http://www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net/ under “forms and documents.”