For a little state, Maryland is packed with history, stories, and quirks no one else has. The Maryland Heritage Area Program isn’t just about old buildings and plaques—it’s about figuring out who we are, who we’ve been, and who we’re trying to be. With 13 unique heritage areas covering every county and Baltimore City, this program stiches together all the beautiful, challenging, and fascinating parts of Maryland into something we can all be proud of.

Heritage Areas are not just good for the soul; they are also very good for the wallet. For every $1 Maryland invests in this program, it gets $7 back. That means:

Currently, this valuable program is running on fumes. The funding has been limited to $6 million and demands far outpace supply. Over the past three years, an $8 million funding gap has kept great ideas on the shelf instead of in your community. Those $100,000 annual management grants for local heritage areas have not changed in 30 years—and now are only worth $62,000 in real dollars. Meanwhile, the workload has tripled.

With the $12 million investment now requested by the Maryland Heritage Areas, we could:

This is the moment. Maryland has the stories, the places, and the people—it simply needs the resources to bring it all together. Let’s invest in a future worth remembering. Let’s make sure Maryland’s heritage is not just preserved, but celebrated year after year, by everyone fortunate enough to call this place home.

• Maryland Heritage Areas are an economic engine throughout the state, with a $7 return on investment for every $1 in state funds.

• The requested increase in funding from the transfer tax will directly benefit our communities, counties, cities, and provide economic growth, with no impact to the general fund.

• Increasing the heritage area funds from Program Open Space will not decrease any other Open Space funding, since the transfer tax has grown.

• The majority of Heritage Area funding goes directly back to Maryland communities, municipalities, counties, businesses, nonprofits, and other entrepreneurial organizations.

• Recognizing the tight budget year, an increase in Maryland Heritage Areas funding, and allowing the grants themselves to increase to reflect inflationary pressures,  will spur economic growth and sustainability throughout the state.

• Heritage Tourism is a powerhouse, providing funding throughout the state with no taxes!  Heritage tourists stay longer and spend more money that other tourists.

• Heritage Areas provide pride of place, and a reason to visit, stay longer, and live in Maryland!

• This is Maryland’s Decade, and as we head towards the 250th of our Nation and the 400th of our State, Maryland Heritage Areas are leading the way.