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African American Heritage Preservation Program

Historic Oliver Community Firehouse – AAHPP Grant Recipient – Image Courtesy of African American Fire Firefighters Historical Society Inc.

The goal of the African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP) is to identify and preserve buildings, communities and sites of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland. This competitive program, offered once per year, is supported through an annual appropriation from the Maryland General Assembly, and is administered as a joint partnership of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) and the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). The Maryland General Assembly created the AAHPP during the 2010 session and reauthorized it, with modifications, as a permanent program during the 2015 session.

Starting in fiscal year 2024, the AAHPP has a new annual appropriation of $5 million– up from $1 million annually!

Grant awards can range from $10,000 to $250,000. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and local jurisdictions. Business entities and individuals may also apply for Program grants when seeking funds for a preservation or development project that serves a high public purpose. Eligible projects include acquisition, construction, capital improvement, and certain predevelopment costs for African American heritage properties. In the eight years since its inception, the AAHPP has awarded 106 grants totaling $8 million.

UPDATE:
Applications for FY25 AAHPP are now available. In-person workshops and webinars are scheduled to inform interested parties about $5 million in available funding for capital grants. All applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59pm on July 1, 2024.

March 27, 2024
In-Person Workshop from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
The Banneker Douglass Museum (Annapolis)
April 23, 2024
Webinar from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM (Virtual)
May 10, 2024
In-Person Workshop
The C. Burr Artz Public Library (Frederick)
June 3, 2024
Webinar from 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM (Virtual)

Click here to register for workshops. Program guidelines and grant applications may be obtained from MHT’s website.


AAHPP Annual Report to the Governor and the General Assembly