Heritage Programs Receive Nearly $300,000

State MHAA Grants & Local Mini-Grants Announced

Six Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area (HCCHA) projects and programs have been awarded nearly $300,00 in matching grants from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. These grants are among 87 statewide totaling $5.19 million for Maryland non-profits, local jurisdictions and other heritage tourism organizations.

Among these grants is a $25,000 Block Grant, which is used to provide mini-grants to help fund smaller, local projects that enrich heritage resources or events in the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area. Mini-Grants support the efforts of local museums, organizations, and municipalities that advance the mission and goals of the Heritage Area. All the projects serve to preserve Dorchester County's heritage, to market local heritage to visitors and residents, or to improve the economic health of the area.

MHAA Grant Awards Benefit Dorchester County Programs

The MHAA grant funds, which were approved on July 11, support heritage tourism projects and activities that draw visitors and increase economic development and tourism-related job creation throughout Maryland.

Governor Wes Moore announced the matching grants, noting, "Our history is our power. By prioritizing heritage tourism, we aren't just investing in local economies, we are also empowering Marylanders to find their own strength in our collective past. These projects will make Maryland more competitive, support a diverse array of new partnerships, and enrich the lives of both visitors and residents alike."

The Dorchester County grants support programming and activities in the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area, one of 13 certified Maryland Heritage Areas. The HCCHA grants for FY2025 include four projects, one block grant and one management grant:

• Dorchester Center for the Arts, Inc. – Historic Nathan Building Envelope Rehabilitation and Restoration, which will assist in preserving the historic building that dates to the 1880s and will allow DCA to continue to promote and preserve local arts, history and traditions through its exhibits and programming, $61,605.
• Groove City Black Heritage & Culture Group, Inc. – 2025 Groove City Culture Fest, an acclaimed festival that demonstrates a commitment to showcasing the diverse cultures that make the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area unique, especially this year with the inclusion of the growing Hispanic and Puerto Rican communities, $25,000.
• The Friends of Stanley Institute, Inc. – Christ Rock United Methodist Church Repairs, which are critical for the building's preservation and for creating new experiences that will engage heritage tourists at the historic site across from the Stanley Institute, a stop on the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway, $30,497.
• Dorchester County Council – Management Grant to operate the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area, $100,000.
• Dorchester County Council – Block Grant to be redistributed as mini-grants for local heritage projects and activities, $25,000.
• Dorchester County Council – Revealing the All-American Road (a multi-heritage area partnership among the Heart of Chesapeake Country Heritage Area and the Beach to Bay and Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Areas) to develop and promote the All-American Road designation on the Eastern Shore and implement the recommendations in the Interpretive Plan, $50,000.

Mini-Grants Awarded for 9 Projects

The HCCHA awards mini-grants each year for projects and events that will encourage or improve heritage tourism in Dorchester County. The awardees approved at the Heritage Board's July 18 meeting are:

• Alpha Genesis Community Development Corp. – Additional Signage at the Harriet Tubman Mural. Funds will support the installation of new wayfinding signs that will inform visitors of other heritage sites withing walking distance of the Harriet Tubman Mural. $2,500.
• Choptank Arts & Culture Exchange – Marketing CASE. Funds will support CASE activities that advance artistic and cultural awareness and related endeavors, specifically focusing on local organizations and individuals. $1,060.
• Dorchester Skipjack Committee – Evaluation of Boat Mast and Website Updates. Funding will be used for the inspection/survey of the Skipjack Nathan's existing mast, as well as for a website upgrade. $2,250.
• Good Stuff of North Carolina – Innovation Exhibit at the Packing House. Funding will support the creation and installation of a public exhibit that interprets the local stories of the land, water, people and industries, such as seafood harvesting and agriculture. $2,200.
• Groove City Black Heritage & Culture – Pine Street Banners & Booklets. Funding will go toward creating and designing banners and booklets honoring local civil rights activists and pioneering Black community leaders who made significant contributions during the 1960s. $2,500.
• Harriet Tubman Museum & Education Center – Virtual Walking Tour. Funds will be used to create a virtual tour based on the narrated musical history walk that Linda Harris leads along the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway. $5,000.
• Nanticoke Historic Preservation Alliance – Nanticoke River Jamboree Historic Interpreters. Funding will support the costs of living history performers for the Jamboree commemorating the 160th anniversary of Maryland's 1864 Emancipation of the Enslaved. $1,990.
• Nause-Waiwash Band of Indians – 32nd Annual Native American Festival. Funding supports costs associated with the festival, including reserving the venue, promotion, printing programs, a master of ceremonies and performers. $5,000.
• Vienna Heritage Society – Revitalize Vienna Heritage. As the Vienna Museum and John Smith Museum work toward merging, funding will cover a laptop/catalog program, museum cleanup, educational material, audio visual equipment and historic site signage. $2,500.