FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
February 1, 2008 - Chestertown, MD
For more information: Elizabeth Watson at:
ewatson@storiesofthechesapeake.org
410-778-1460 or 410-725-1272

Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area Seeks Applicants for “Mini-Grants”

Chestertown, MD, February 1, 2008 - Eastern Shore Heritage, Inc. (ESHI), the managing entity for the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area, has re-opened its Small Grants program and is now seeking grant applications for small projects that enhance heritage tourism, museum programming, stewardship, and community heritage activities in Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot Counties. The deadline is March 3, 2008.

Nonprofit groups and governmental agencies may apply for up to $2,500 in matching "mini grants," limited to non-capital projects within the four counties. Eligible non-capital projects include planning, design, interpretation, events, and programming.

“We had some excellent grant applications in our fall round, and we will be announcing winners shortly,” said William J. MacFarland, ESHI’s president and a member of the Grants Committee. “But they did not need the entire amount of the funding established for Small Grants this year.” Approximately $5,000 remains to be awarded. Because much of the state fiscal year has elapsed, priority will go to projects that can be completed by September of 2008, MacFarland noted.

Elizabeth Watson, ESHI's executive director, said that organizations that need help in preparing the grant are invited to send representatives to attend ESHI's grant application training workshop on Thursday, February 7, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Chesapeake College. “This workshop is required for Statewide Grant applicants, who are also facing the same deadline,” said Watson. “But the more programs that know how to compete for either of these grants, the better will be the heritage area that we are all a part of.”

Watson also noted that ESHI anticipates opening the FY09 Small Grant round much earlier than in past years, soon after the award of Statewide Grants by the MHAA in mid-July, assuming that the usual $10,000 is granted to ESHI by the MHAA for this purpose. “If you do not believe your project can be completed rapidly, or if not all of your matching funds are in place now, we encourage you to wait a few more months and apply for FY09 funding,” she said.

Project requirements include grantees providing a match of at least 100 percent. A minimum of 75 percent of the match must be in cash; the remainder may be in donated services and products or volunteer labor. Applicants must be located in the state-certified portion of the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area, which currently includes most unincorporated areas of Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot Counties. It also includes the following towns: Betterton, Centreville, Chestertown, Easton, Goldsboro, Greensboro, Hillsboro, Millington, Ridgely, Rock Hall, and Sudlersville. Preston, Queen Anne, and Queenstown are expected to be added to the Certified Heritage Area by formal action of the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority by June and thus applicants within those three jurisdictions also qualify for this grant round. Denton and Oxford are also under consideration in the same time frame.

For more information about the grant process, the Heritage Management Plan for the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area, or to register for the February 7 workshop, please contact Elizabeth Watson at 410-778-1460 or ewatson@storiesofthechesapeake.org ewatson@storiesofthechesapeake.org. All applicants are strongly advised to discuss grant ideas with the staff of Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area prior to applying. The deadline for applications is close of business on March 3, 2008. Applications must be ceived by 5 p.m. on this date at the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area's office in Chestertown, Maryland.

The Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area was begun in the late 1990's by a group of citizens and public officials seeking ways for Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne's, and Talbot counties to enjoy the benefits of the state's heritage tourism program. The heritage area is managed by Eastern Shore Heritage, Inc. (ESHI), a not-for-profit organization. Today, the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area represents the collaborative efforts of nearly 60 nonprofit and governmental institutions and more than 600 local businesses involved in heritage tourism in four counties and 21 towns. Since the heritage area was certified by the State of Maryland in 2005, 19 nonprofit and governmental bodies have received funding from either Eastern Shore Heritage, Inc., or the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority. For more information about the Stories of the Chesapeake Heritage Area, visit www.storiesofthechesapeake.org http://www.storiesofthechesapeake.org .