July 15, 2019
MEDIA RELEASE
State Awards $216,000 in Grant Funding for Patapsco Valley Heritage Area
Contact: Lindsey Baker / director@patapsco.org / 410.696.1328
Executive Director, Patapsco Heritage Greenway
The Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) announced matching grants totaling $216,000 for Patapsco Valley Heritage Area non-profits and local jurisdictions. The grant funds support heritage tourism projects and activities that draw visitors and expand economic development and tourism-related opportunities in the Patapsco Valley. An additional $47,000 in matching grants were placed on the reserve list, potentially receiving funding as well for fiscal year 2020.
Funded projects in the Patapsco Valley Heritage Area include:
- Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park, “Mobile Interpretive Park Center”- $50,000
- Patapsco Heritage Greenway, “EC 250 Video Project”- $15,000
- Ellicott City Partnership, “Finding Your Way in Ellicott City”- $8,500
Reserve list project recommendations were:
- Community College of Baltimore County, “Educating visitors through interpretive signage”- $32,000
- Friends of Patapsco Valley State Park, “PVSP Trail Work Series”- $15,000
In addition, Patapsco Heritage Greenway received a Management Grant for $100,000, a Block Grant for $25,000, and a Marketing Grant for $17,500. PHG’s Marketing Grant will be dedicated to bringing in Heritage Tourists to the Patapsco Valley Heritage Area and highlighting the wonderful resources in our area. All funds from the Block Grant will be used for mini-grants to Patapsco Valley Heritage Area partners and stakeholders.
This year the state awarded 109 matching grants totaling $5 million to Maryland nonprofits, local jurisdictions, and other heritage tourism organizations by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA). These grant funds support heritage tourism projects and activities that draw visitors to and expand economic development and tourism-related job creation in Maryland’s 13 certified heritage areas. Every dollar of MHAA state grant funding has a return on investment of $4.45, generates $19.8 million in state and local taxes, and creates 3,146 jobs annually. For this round of grants in FY20, more than $5.9 million in funds were requested with $5 million awarded.
