As a certified Maryland Heritage Area, the Patapsco Valley Heritage Area offers the following grant programs and financial incentives to qualified organizations:
PVHA Mini-Grant Program
The Patapsco Valley Heritage Area (PVHA) Mini-Grant Program is designed to assist heritage-related sites, organizations, and municipalities to develop new and innovative programs, partnerships, exhibits, tours, events, and other initiatives consistent with the regional goals and objectives stated within our state and county approved Management Plan.
The program, administered by the Patapsco Heritage Greenway (PHG), encourages mini-grant proposals that include:
- Collaborative partnerships
- Preservation enhancement
- Stewardship of natural resources
- Promotion of heritage tourism
FY24 Mini-Grant Applications were due on October 6, 2023. For a list of FY24 awardees, see our announcement. For a list of FY23 awardees, check out our Press Release.
Refer to the following document links for our guidelines, application, and final report forms. Please note that any combination of cash and in-kind donations that meets the one-to-one match requirement are accepted for mini-grants.
EC250 Legacy Fund
Patapsco Heritage Greenway (PHG) is honored to announce the receipt of a major gift from EC250 Inc. to establish the EC250 Legacy Fund. The fund will be used solely to support projects that benefit Ellicott City and take place within the Ellicott City Historic District plus properties immediately abutting Frederick Road from Toll House Road to River Road in Baltimore County. The purpose of the fund, as stipulated by EC250’s Board of Directors with the gift, is to help non-profit, partner organizations fund projects that:
- Provide educational and informative programs, events, and learning experiences that raise the visibility of the history of Ellicott City; and/or
- Beautify and enhance the appearance of Ellicott City and its gateways through the maintenance and restoration of interpretive signage, gardens, benches, and visitor amenities.
MHAA Project Grants and Financial Incentives
Financial incentives for the Maryland Heritage Areas Program are awarded by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA). For a full list of complete financial incentives in Maryland Heritage areas, see here.
To apply, an organization must meet one of the following criteria:
- Be located within the boundaries of a certified Heritage Area, or
- Have a project that takes place within the boundaries of a certified Heritage Area.
MHAA provides dollar-for-dollar matching grants to nonprofit organizations and government entities for capital and non-capital projects located within a Heritage Area. Grants can support projects involving historical, cultural or natural resources, sites, events or facilities.
PHG, as the managing entity of the PVHA, works with local partners to develop their MHAA project grants. Additionally, the PVHA local grant review panel provides feedback to applicants in order to strengthen their applications.
Full details are available in the MHAA project grant guidelines.