As part of the Eastern Shore Heritage Inc.‰s efforts to support the preservation and enhancement of the heritage in the four counties of Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne‰s and Talbot, we are sponsoring an opportunity for organizations to receive grants.  These grants are made available through the generous award of funds from The Maryland Commission for Celebration 2000.

Guidelines

• The project should reflect the mission of Eastern Shore Heritage Inc. -- To serve the counties of Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne‰s and Talbot and develop a program that will successfully protect the beauty and heritage of the region, improve the quality of life its residents, and craft an enriching experience for visitors.
   
• The project should involve the broadest possible array of institutions and organizations in the Eastern Shore Heritage area through partnerships or joint applications.
   
• The project should attempt to link and coordinate activities and programs in as many of the four counties as possible.
   
• Â Each project should leave a legacy and have the potential for being continued or further developed in the future.
   
• The project should be able to demonstrate popular support from the community.
   
• All projects should seek to be accessible to as many citizens and visitors as possible, including those with disabilities.

Eligible Projects and Applicants

Eligible projects may include a broad array of preservation, conservation and heritage tourism activities including but not limited to, rehabilitation or restoration of historic properties; preservation planning; educational information and publication projects which may enlighten and encourage public knowledge and support, such as meetings, lectures, symposiums and heritage tourism activities.

The selection process will favor projects that reflect the goals and themes presented in The Heritage of the Upper Eastern Shore completed in April 1999.  Projects that capture the themes that link the four counties will also be favored.

Eligible applicants will be organized, identifiable entities with legal capacity to incur the obligation attendant in receiving grant funds, such as non profit organizations, local jurisdictions, businesses and individuals qualified to do business in the four counties of Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne‰s and Talbot.  Applications must include the status of the applicant.

Information Requested

• Copies of organizational documents or any papers confirming the validity of the organization;
   
• Names, addresses, telephone numbers of officers, Board of Directors: individuals should submit with application letters ( at least two) of support for their project from known preservation or heritage tourism organizations or persons recognized to be active in preservation or heritage tourism activities: funds will not be dispersed to a sole application not represented by a governing body or letters of recommendation and support;
   
• A declaration stating whether the applicant has ever requested and/or received grant funds from any other organization; the applicant may be requested to supply validation of any previous preservation effort, and/or personal references;
   
• A one page summary of the proposed project with defined goals for use of the grant, including how the completion of the project will contribute to the understanding and preservation of the themes of nature, maritime and colonial history, agriculture, archaeology, religion, African American and small town life in the four counties.  Also, how the project fulfills the guidelines. 
   
• If the assistance for the project is one phase of a multi-phase effort, the extent and impact of that phase must be clearly stated in the applicatiom.
   
• Time schedule of the project (or portion of the project for which funds are requested) and an anticipated completion date for the total project

A copy of The Heritage of the Upper Eastern Shore will be available for review to the applicant as part of the application process along with an application sheet.  A completed budget must accompany each application with all sources of funds identified

Amounts

Funds available under the Eastern Shore Heritage, Inc. Millennium Mini-Grant are determined as $5,000 to organizations or individuals, as described in our grant guidelines, for each of the four counties which totals $20,000. Organizations that serve more than one county or projects that reflect the linkages and themes of more than one county are encouraged and will be reviewed by the grant committee and assigned cash value to meet the requirements of $5,000 per jurisdiction.  The amount of the grant will be verified in writing and delivered to the applicant.

All requests for assistance must be submitted by November 16, 2000 to:

 Eastern Shore Heritage Inc.
c/o Helen M. Spinelli, Director
Caroline County Department
of Economic Development & Tourism
16 North Second Street
Denton, Maryland  21629

Conclusion

After all applications are reviewed, they will be ranked according to criteria, taking into account geographic location for equitable region-wide distribution of funds.  If the application for financial assistance from Eastern Shore Heritage, Inc. (ESHI) is approved, ESHI will require a final report upon completion of the project (or phase thereof) and representatives of the ESHI will perform an on-site inspection or review after which they will provide a report to the Board of Directors.  The final report of the project (or phase) will be in written form, filed with all pertinent papers kept by the designated Chairperson of the Grants Committee.