CROWNSVILLE, Md. (July 12, 2016)—Today, the Hogan administration announced that 52 matching grants totaling $2,699,532 were awarded to Maryland non-profits, local jurisdictions and other heritage tourism organizations including museums, and historic preservation, natural resources, cultural, and educational organizations through the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA). Three of the 52 grants, totalling $144,750, went to the following three organizations in So. Md.
Calvert Nature Society, Inc. received $80,000 for protecting Battle Creek Cypress Swamp
Sanctuary and preserving a Cypress barn.
www.calvertparks.org
Historic St. Mary's City received $8,750 for a new orientation video for Historic St. Mary's City.
www.stmaryscity.org
Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland received $56,000 for FY-2017 Management.
www.DestinationSouthernMaryland.com
The MHAA oversees Maryland's system of 13 locally-administered, state-certified Heritage Areas. Today, all Maryland counties and Baltimore City have at least part of a state-certified Heritage Area within their boundaries. Heritage Areas foster broad public-private partnerships to preserve and enhance the best of Maryland's historic sites and towns, unspoiled natural landscapes, and enduring traditions. These tangible links to both place and the past encourage residents to recognize the special piece of the American story they can treasure and share with others and that in doing so they are contributing to the economic well-being of Maryland's communities.
One of every 16 workers in Maryland is supported by tourism-related employment, providing more than 140,000 jobs and $16.4 billion of visitor spending annually. Maryland's Heritage Areas contribute to this by saving and enhancing the places that attract heritage tourists - people who focus their travels on historic sites, museums, cultural activities, or the natural beauty of Maryland's Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay coastal areas and unspoiled scenery of Mountain Maryland. Studies show heritage tourists tend to stay longer and spend more money than other categories of tourists.
The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority is an independent unit in the executive branch of government administered by the Maryland Department of Planning. Since its creation in 1996, MHAA has awarded over $32.9 million dollars in grants and helped to leverage over $105 million in non-state funding for heritage tourism projects and activities in Maryland's 13 Certified Heritage Areas.
To learn more about the Maryland Heritage Areas Program and the state's 13 certified Heritage Areas, please visit http://mht.maryland.gov/heritageareas.shtml