Grants

As part of the mission of the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area Inc., the organization oversees funding for grants that further overall goals of the heritage area and heritage tourism. ATHA Inc.’s grants program includes a local mini-grant for small scale projects that might need seed funding. The organization is also charged with managing and reviewing MHAA funded grants for significant capital and non-capital investments. Finally, ATHA Inc. oversees a Targeted Investment Zone program which allows for additional funding to specific areas in the Heritage Area.

MINI-GRANTS

ATHA, Inc.’s mini-grant program is designed to provide seed funding for innovative exhibits, tours, planning and projects which build upon interpretive themes identified in ATHA’s Management Plan. Projects should seek to attract cultural heritage tourists to the region.

APPLICATION (Note Date Due before submission): Next submission deadline will be Summer 2012. Check back in June for more information.

FINAL REPORT: A final report filing form will be required to fill this form out online to receive the final 25% of their grant funds.

SPONSORSHIPS

ATHA, Inc. will consider specific sponsorship opportunities for special events which further the goals of the organization to market and make aware the goals and mission of the organization. Programs should seek to attract new interest in cultural heritage tourism and potentially attract new visitors.

APPLICATION: The online application will be available to partners in April 2012. Until that time, contact the staff at aaron (at) anacostiatrails.org

MHAA GRANTS

The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants to non-profit organizations and governments for capital and non-capital projects located within a Maryland Certified Heritage Area (CHA). Grants can support projects involving historical, cultural, or natural resources, sites, events, or facilities. Eligible projects must have a heritage tourism component (i.e. the project involves a visitor destination such as a museum, visitor center, or nature center; helps to provide facilities and services that support heritage tourism, such as rehabilitating a historic building as a Bed & Breakfast, restaurant, or other tourism related retail use or is an event that will help to create a long-term increase in visitation to the Heritage Area). (From MHAA Website)

ATHA Inc. will receive the applications and provide a ranking system for the MHAA for the applications. Currently, the focus on projects are items which highlight the War of 1812 or provide support for tour and wayfinding systems.

Applications are first submitted to ATHA. A letter of intent is due in late January (January 27, 2012). Applications generally are due sometime between the beginning to middle of March (March 5, 2012).
ATHA’s review committee then reviews, ranks, and submits applications to the MHAA, generally in early April (April 6, 2012).
MHAA staff first review applications for completeness and accuracy and will contact ATHA or applicants if additional information is required.
Complete applications are forwarded to the MHAA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) for review.
TAC recommendations are then forwarded to the MHAA for review and final action at the Authority’s July meeting

All grants must be matched in an amount at least equal to the amount of the grant award (dollar-for-dollar match).

The match must consist of a cash match equal to at least 75% of the grant award (e.g. if $100,000 of MHAA grant funds is awarded, a minimum of $75,000 of the grantee’s total match must be cash)
No more than 35% of the minimum required cash match may consist of applicant staff salaries.
The balance of project match may consist of in-kind contributions.
State of Maryland funds may not be used as match.
Contact ATHA staff for possible matching solutions.

Visit the MHAA Matching Grant website at: http://mht.maryland.gov/grants_heritagearea_project.html

TARGET INVESTMENT ZONES

The State of Maryland defines Target Investment Zone’s as “a specific priority area into which you are attempting to attract significant private investment. The Management Plan must identify the Zones which you wish to establish within the boundaries of the Certified Heritage Area.”

A number of the incentives available through the Maryland Heritage Preservation and Tourism Areas Program are limited to the Zone to encourage demonstrable results and return on public investment within a relatively short period of time. Projects and properties throughout the CHA are eligible for grants from the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority Financing Fund for planning, design, interpretation, marketing, and programming, and to encourage revitalization and reinvestment in the CHA.

The following Program incentives are limited to projects and properties located within the Target Investment Zone identified in the Management Plan and approved by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority:

Grants or loans from the Fund for acquisition, development, preservation, or restoration. Grants for such projects identified in the Management Plan may be made within the identified Zone(s) for a period of up to five years after the day on which the Authority approves the Management Plan. The Authority may make a grant after the five year period if the Authority determines that the project is essential for the success of the Management Plan for the CHA.
Loans for economic development projects from the proceeds of revenue bonds sold by the Authority.
The Heritage Preservation Tax Credit for structures not listed in the National Register of Historic Places, designated as a historic property under local law, or located in a listed historic district. The Tax Credit is available throughout Maryland for the rehabilitation of listed or designated historic structures, but it is also available within the Zone for the rehabilitation of non-listed or non-designated historic structures as well as non-historic structures the rehabilitation of which significantly enhances the overall quality of the CHA.