The public is invited to participate as planning for the future of the recently designated Southern Maryland National Heritage Area begins with a meeting on September 13, 2023. The meeting will be held at Calvert Marine Museum in Solomon’s Island.
Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Executive Director Lucille Walker has been quoted in support of the Chesapeake National Recreation Area, a bill formally introduced by Senator Chris Van Hollen on Thursday, July 27, 2023.
SOMD News quotes Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Executive Director Lucille Walker in their article "Eight organizations awarded National Heritage Area grants".
On July 13, the Moore Administration announced $466,500 to the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area, with $5 million awarded statewide. The Executive Director and the Board of Directors are pleased that these grants to Southern Maryland reflect substantial growth in the heritage area and the heritage area’s historical significance on a state and national level.
Bay Journal quotes Destination Southern Maryland Executive Director Lucille Walker in their article "New National Heritage Area aims to tell inclusive stories of the Chesapeake landscape".
WTOP News quotes Destination Southern Maryland Executive Director Lucille Walker in their article "New recognition for Maryland’s oldest-settled region".
Becoming a national heritage area holds many benefits to Southern Maryland, and one of the greatest benefits is receiving “about $1 million a year in federal funds over the next 10 years and more from local and private sources—to promote tourism, education and promotional programs and environmental protection efforts,” according to Chesapeake Bay Magazine‘s article “Southern MD Gets Funding Boost As New National Heritage Area.”
The recently designated Southern Maryland National Heritage Area has provided economic benefits including grants to provide for the restoration of historic pieces, including a canon that had “accompanied the first settlers to Maryland on the Ark in 1634” according to the Southern Maryland News’ article “Ark cannon to be restored.”
On Thursday, May 25, at Piscataway Park in Accokeek, MD, the Southern Maryland National Heritage Area Launch took place. Featuring a keynote speech from Governor Wes Moore, this event celebrated the Southern Maryland communities residing in Prince George's, Charles, Calvert, and St. Mary's counties.
Senator Ben Cardin (D-Maryland) was the Key Note Speaker on January 19, 2023 in Annapolis for the Legislative Dinner of the Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland.
