Hughesville, MD – The Executive Director and the Board of Directors of the Southern Maryland Heritage Area (Destination Southern Maryland) are pleased to announce $40,000 in Seed Grants awarded to significant heritage tourism projects in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s County. These grants reflect substantial growth in the Southern Maryland Heritage Area. This Heritage Area had its greatest response to the Seed Grant Program to date, with over $93,000 in grant requests. In keeping with the mission of the Southern Maryland Heritage Area, this granting opportunity is focused on preserving the heritage of the region through innovative tourism, excellence in cultural and natural resource conservation, and unique educational opportunities.
Of the many excellent proposals received, the Board of Directors selected the following organizations and programs to receive the 2020 (FY 2021) Seed Grant Awards:
Calvert County
American Chestnut Land Trust. – $4,000
- Preparing Holly Hill Barn for the Public
Bayside History Museum – $1,000
- Identity of a Small Town
Board of Commissioners – $3,000
- Birds, History, Ecology of Chesapeake
Calvert County Government – $725
- Conservation of Artifacts, Calverton Site
Calvert County Historical Society – $4,000
- Barns of Calvert County Video, Art Show
Charles County
Cedarville Band of the Piscataway – $4,000
- Living the American Indian Experience
Friends of Chapman State Park – $2,000
- Keys to History: Countess Bessenyey
Maryland Veterans Memorial Museum – $3,000
- African American Religious Freedom
St. Mary’s County
Friends of St. Clement’s Island & Piney Point Museums – $4,000
- Interactive Exhibits at Piney Point
Greenwell Foundation – $1,275
- Open Barn Events
Commissioners of Leonardtown – $4,000
- LTown Alley Project
Historic Sotterley- $4,000
- Common Ground: Transcending Barriers
Historic St. Mary’s City Foundation – $4,000
- Archaeological Announcement
NAACP, St. Mary’s County – $1,000
- Mathias de Sousa Summit
Each of the programs selected for an award will enhance the Southern Maryland experience for visitors, residents, educators and businesses. Lucille Walker, Executive Director, notes that “Each year we see a greater demand for this grant opportunity, and now, even with COVID-19, we are so pleased to see such creative and innovative programs being developed for Southern Maryland.”
