CROWNSVILLE, MD—The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), an agency of the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP), is accepting applications for fiscal year 2008 grants under the MHT Historic Preservation and Museum Assistance Grant Programs. These grant programs are funded through the MHT Grant Fund and include grants for Capital and Non-Capital Historic Preservation and Museum Advancement.
The state more than doubled the non-capital grant program this past year, from $266,000 to $458,000. The Maryland Historical Trust's budget now includes nearly $2 million in grants to Maryland's historical and cultural museums, and the Governor's 2007 budget includes $30 million for the rehabilitation tax credit program, a ten million dollar increase from the year before.
Nonprofit organizations and local jurisdictions can become part of Maryland's preservation effort by applying 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.
Only nonprofit organizations and local jurisdictions may apply for historic preservation Non-Capital grants. Non-Capital projects may include a wide array of historic preservation activities, ranging from historic property research, to survey and documentation work, to the development of historic preservation educational programs and planning documents.
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: 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 8, 2006. Non-Capital Historic Preservation and Museum Advancement grant applicants must first submit an "Intention to Apply" form, which is due on December 8, 2006. Completed applications for Non-Capital Historic Preservation and Museum Advancement grants are due on March 30, 2007. The project selection process will begin in spring, 2007 and grant awards will be announced in early fall, 2007. The maximum grant award for Capital and Non-Capital historic preservation grants is $50,000.
A dollar-for-dollar match is required of local jurisdictions, individuals, and business entities for Capital grants, and of all local jurisdictions for Non-Capital grants. Nonprofit organizations are not required to provide a match for either of 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 2008 include an emphasis on the application of the U. S. Department 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, contact the appropriate MHT staff member - for Capital Projects, contact Claudette Sherman at 410-514-7633 or csherman@mdp.state.md.us; for Non-Capital Projects contact Nicole Diehlmann at 410-514-7625 or ndiehlmann@mdp.state.md.us; or for Museum Advancement grants contact Mary Alexander at 410-514-7622 or malexander@mdp.state.md.us. You may also write to the Maryland Historical Trust at the Maryland Department of Planning, 100 Community Place, Crownsville, MD 21032-2023. Applications are available to download from the Internet at http://www.marylandhistoricaltrust.net under "forms and documents."