Press Release: "Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area and Five Local Partner Organizations awarded $534,000 in Maryland Heritage Grant Awards"

Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area (CCHA) joins the Moore Administration in announcing 6 new grants totaling $534,000 awarded to local Annapolis and Anne Arundel County non-profit organizations by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA). This grant funding supports the development of heritage-related, place-based projects across the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area that promote economic growth through tourism, community enhancement, and sustainability. The grants awarded are among 58 matching grant awards totaling $5 million for Maryland nonprofits, local jurisdictions, and heritage tourism organizations by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. Support for heritage tourism projects and activities helps expand economic development and tourism-related jobs across Maryland. As the local management entity for Maryland’s Heritage Areas Program, Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area (CCHA) was awarded a $200,000 Management Grant. These funds support CCHA’s operations, marketing and heritage tourism initiatives, technical assistance to partner organizations, and funds the popular and impactful local Mini-Grant Program. CCHA Executive Director C. Jane Cox emphasized how this funding extends far beyond CCHA’s own operations, directly benefiting heritage organizations throughout the region. “CCHA will use a portion of these grant funds to award $40,000 in FY2027 Mini-Grants directly to local nonprofit organizations, museums, and heritage sites. As many of our partners know, funding for historic preservation and heritage organizations is woefully inadequate. We are honored to help fill that gap by providing critical local support for preservation, interpretation, education, and heritage tourism projects throughout Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. Every dollar invested in these organizations helps preserve our shared history, strengthen our communities, and create engaging experiences for residents and visitors alike. These grants are often the catalyst that enables important projects to move from vision to reality.” Join us is congratulating five of our partner organizations that received $334,000 in MHAA funding in the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area for FY27: Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park (Wilma Lee Electrical & Rigging Rehabilitation Project – $100,000) Galesville Heritage Society, Inc. (Galesville Maritime Heritage Festival – $10,000) Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts (Bowen Theatre Capital Improvements at Maryland Hall – $100,000) Severn Cross Roads Foundation -Baldwin Hall (Historic Baldwin Hall Roof Replacement Project – $75,000) Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (Tracks, Trails, & Tales: Celebrating 200 Years of American Railroads – $49,000) “As the nation steams towards the 200th anniversary of American railroading, we are thrilled to receive funding to create a new travel guide that will connect visitors and residents with the railroad story that tracks across the Annapolis, Baltimore, Washington, DC region,” said Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County CEO Kristen Pironis. “This project will combine historical railroad content, rail-trail wayfinding for cyclists and hikers, and modern trip-planning tools, while we partner with our business community to enhance accommodations for outdoor recreation travelers, so everyone can get on track for memorable travel experiences.” The FY2027 statewide grant cycle was exceptionally competitive. While only 5 were funded, 24 partner organizations within the Chesapeake Crossroads Heritage Area submitted applications as part of a highly competitive statewide pool, underscoring both the strength of our local heritage community and the significant demand for additional preservation and heritage tourism funding. The number and high quality of applications demonstrate the need for enhanced investment in Maryland’s heritage resources—both locally and statewide. 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. “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.”