Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA), a state heritage organization, awarded 114 matching grants totaling nearly $5 million to Maryland nonprofit organizations, local jurisdictions and tourism groups. The grants fund historic preservation, natural resource protection and educational programs in 13 state-designated Heritage Areas. By supporting capital projects and educational activities, the grants spawn renewed interest in Maryland culture from residents and visitors, boosting tourism-related jobs.
Five grant applications submitted by The Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area received funds. Jen Durben, Heritage Area & Groups Director said, “We received applications for impactful projects from organizations in our heritage area and we are thrilled to have five projects awarded in a very competitive round of applications. 167 applications were submitted totaling over $7.2 million in requested funds. Garrett County received a total of $304,501 of the $5 million awarded. These grants will allow the recipients to expand awareness of heritage here in Garrett County.”
The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce is the official Management Entity for the Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area and provides the 1 to 1 match for the Management Grant. The Garrett County Heritage Area & Groups Director administers the Heritage Area Program and works with stakeholders by offering technical and grant assistance for heritage related initiatives that preserve valuable heritage resources and enhance tourism in the County.
Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area projects funded were:
- Garrett County Government ($100,000) – Do the LOOP – Otto Lane to New Germany Trail Segment
- Garrett Lakes Arts Festival, Inc ($12,862) – Maryland Chautauqua: Yesterday and Today
- Garrett Trails, Inc. ($50,000) – Trail Feasibility Study of the Casselman River (Jennings Brothers) Railroad
- Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area ($100,000) – Management Grant for management services of the certified heritage area with a goal to promote heritage tourism.
- Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area ($41,639) – Marketing Grant for promotion and brand awareness of the Heritage Area.
The Mountain Maryland Gateway to the West Heritage Area is a program of the Garrett County Chamber of Commerce which supports heritage tourism in Garrett County through technical assistance and grant opportunities with a focus on heritage related initiatives that preserve valuable heritage resources and enhance tourism in the County. As a state certified heritage area, effort is made to create public and private partnerships to preserve historical, cultural and natural resources focusing on under-utilized resources fostering a greater sense of community pride.
The Garrett County Chamber of Commerce is the largest professional business association in the region with 600 members representing every industry in the community. The mission of the Chamber is to organize, support and represent Garrett County’s business community in advancing common interests and additionally to promote Garrett County’s hospitality and recreation industry by attracting visitors to the county through comprehensive marketing. The Garrett County Chamber also serves as the Destination Marketing Organization and Heritage Area Management entity for the County.
