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$5 Million in FY27 MHAA Grants Awarded
Maryland Heritage Area Program
FY27 Grants Announced
Maryland Heritage Area Program
FY27 Grants Announced
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026
Governor Moore Announces
$5 Million in FY27 Maryland Heritage Grant Awards to Promote Local Economic Development
Governor Moore Announces
$5 Million in FY27 Maryland Heritage Grant Awards to Promote Local Economic Development
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Governor Wes Moore today announced 58 matching grant awards totaling $5 million for Maryland nonprofits, local jurisdictions, and heritage tourism organizations awarded by the Maryland Heritage Areas Program. This grant funding will support the development of heritage-related, place-based projects across Maryland that promote economic growth through tourism, community enhancement, and sustainability.
“You can not understand the history of America without understanding the history of our state,” said Gov. Moore. “The Maryland Heritage Areas Program grant awards ensure that the history and the culture that makes our state great, is preserved through private-public partnerships that boost our local economies, while enriching and educating Marylanders and all who visit our state.”
The Maryland Heritage Areas Program provides $2.4 billion in annual economic benefit to the state and Maryland Heritage Areas Program grants generate $319.8 million in state and local taxes while supporting 33,815 full and part-time jobs annually. Organizations receiving awards include museums, parks, arts organizations, historic sites, schools and other educational institutions, as well as other entities that steward and celebrate the unique cultural and natural resources located within Maryland’s 13 state-certified heritage areas.
“The Maryland Heritage Areas Program leverages Maryland’s unique historical, cultural, and recreational assets in creative and compelling ways to build stronger, more livable communities as well as thriving local economies,”said Maryland Department of Planning Secretary and Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Chair Rebecca L. Flora. “Much credit and a debt of gratitude is owed to the countless staff and volunteers of the many organizations working to preserve the identities of Maryland’s diverse communities, telling their stories in ways that honor the past while continuing to capture the hearts and minds of future generations.”
Governed by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, the Maryland Heritage Areas Program is an independent unit of government chaired by Maryland Department of Planning Secretary Rebecca Flora and is housed administratively within the Maryland Historical Trust. Since 1996, the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority has approved more than $74 million dollars in grants to hundreds of organizations. These grants have generated more than $175 million in non-state matching funds for heritage tourism projects and activities in the state’s 13 heritage areas.
The FY28 grant cycle will open December 2026.
Maryland Heritage Areas
Statewide Grant Program
Maryland Heritage Areas
Statewide Grant Program
The Maryland Heritage Areas Program designates, supports, and collaborates with certified heritage areas and their partners to create place-based experiences for the public that preserve and promote Maryland’s unique stories and contribute to the well-being of local economies.
Financial incentives for the Maryland Heritage Areas Program are awarded by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA). Capital and non-capital grants are awarded annually for projects and programs that highlight Maryland's diverse heritage, enhance local communities, and promote tourism and economic development
MHAA provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants to nonprofit organizations and government entities for capital and non-capital projects located within a Heritage Area. Grants can support projects involving historical, cultural or natural resources, sites, events or facilities. Eligible projects must have a heritage tourism component or contribute to research that will directly inform a heritage tourism product.
MHAA provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants to nonprofit organizations and government entities for capital and non-capital projects located within a Heritage Area. Grants can support projects involving historical, cultural or natural resources, sites, events or facilities. Eligible projects must have a heritage tourism component or contribute to research that will directly inform a heritage tourism product.
Non-Capital Grants
Grants of up to $50,000 are available for non-capital projects, which can include Planning (research, field investigation, data recovery, feasibility and planning studies, design documents and other planning activities that support the heritage area); Interpretation (exhibits, signage, pedestrian wayfinding signage, interpretive brochures, educational programs and materials, other interpretive activities that support the heritage area); and Programming (seminars, conferences, performances, reenactments, commemorations, festivals).
Capital Grants
Grants of up to $100,000 are available for capital projects, which can include Acquisition (fee title of real property, interest other than fee title (i.e. easement) of real property); Development (repair or alteration of an existing building, structure or site, new construction for heritage tourism purposes); Rehabilitation (returning a property to a state of utility); Restoration (accurately depicting a property as it appeared at a particular period of time, removal of features from another time period, reconstruction of missing features from the restoration period); and Pre-Development (plans and specifications, fees for architectural design and engineering).
July 11, 2025
July 11, 2025
Governor Moore Announces More Than $4.6 Million in Maryland Heritage Grant Awards to Promote Local Economic Development
Governor Moore Announces More Than $4.6 Million in Maryland Heritage Grant Awards to Promote Local Economic Development
Governor Wes Moore today announced 91 matching grant awards totaling more than $4.6 million for Maryland nonprofits, local jurisdictions, and heritage tourism organizations by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. Grant funding will support the development of heritage-related, place-based projects across Maryland that promote economic growth through tourism and community enhancement.
Grants from Local
Heritage Areas
Grants from Local
Heritage Areas
Many, but not all Heritage Areas also have local grant programs! Identify and contact the Heritage Area near you, to find out their grantmaking offerings, guidelines, and deadlines.
Find the Heritage Area Near You
Other Funding Sources
Other Funding Sources
Being located in a Heritage Area may also make your project or program eligible for other funding from the Maryland Historical Trust including loans and tax credit programs.
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