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ELKINS -- The Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area announces an expanded $200,000 grants program in connection to the America250 in the Appalachian Forest program, and calls for applications by the end of July from the 18 AFNHA counties in West Virginia and Maryland.
The AFNHA is seeking applications for its new Appalachian Forest Grants Program that will distribute $200,000 to area organizations. Grant requests can be from $1,000 to $20,000 for public, governmental, or non-profit organizations projects that support preservation, interpretation, tourism development, and partnership development.
"Last year, we awarded $60,000 to 18 tourism development projects through our Highlands Creative Economy program thanks to support from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation," explained AFNHA Deputy Director Logan Smith. "Now due to our expanded funding from the National Park Service as a National Heritage Area, we can increase not only the amount of funds that we can award but also the scope of projects that we can support."
Projects funded by the previous grant program included a repurposed 3,200 square feet outdoor event space at Arthurdale Heritage, a quilting symposium and bed-turning workshop at Adaland Mansion in Philippi, an expanded Christmas light display at the Elkins Depot Welcome Center, and signage for self-guided tours at Evergreen Heritage Center in Mount Savage, Maryland.
A major emphasis of the new grant program is interpretive projects related to America250, the nationwide commemoration of our country's 250th anniversary. America250 is a nonpartisan initiative working to engage every American in the 250th anniversary of the United States, which will be July 4, 2026.
"Our America250 in the Appalachian Forest program will commemorate the founding of America by sharing the under-told and locally important stories of the people, communities, and places that have shaped our region over the past 250 years," said AFNHA Executive Director Phyllis Baxter. "We are encouraging people to participate by developing projects to tell their local stories."
The AFNHA will be featuring the America250 stories from the summer of 2023, through the summer of 2026.
These projects may include a variety of formats, such as research, oral history, digital products, interpretive signage, exhibits, live programs, participation projects, or other storytelling. Organizations working on their own projects may also apply for grant support.
The AFNHA asks that all projects fit into one or more of these goals:
- Preserve Assets: Identify, Preserve, Conserve, and Enhance the Assets That Reflect Forest Heritage, including natural, recreational, historical, or cultural assets, and to encourage stewardship of such assets.
- Interpretation: Share the Stories of Forest Heritage through Education, Interpretation, and Experiences. Projects should relate to the America250 program telling diverse stories of America and the development of democracy, and/or relate to one of the AFNHA themes of Forest
- Abundance, Crucible of Isolation, the Logging Boom Builds the Nation, or the Resilient Forest. Tourism Development: Support Sustainable Tourism and Community Development. Projects should relate to AFNHA assets and themes. Tourism projects should improve tourism attractions or enhance the visitor experience for visitor audiences. Community development projects should show the clear benefits of community improvement and engagement.
- Partnerships: Connect and support partners. Projects in this category will primarily focus on building networks and collaboration or on providing support and training to be available to partner groups.
"It's a short application period, but we're hoping for a good number of applications," said AFNHA Communications Manager Ben Duvall-Irwin. "We're encouraging people to reach out for help with their grants. If they have questions or have never written one before, we want them to reach out to us so we can ensure they have a good application."
Grant applicants must be public, governmental, or non-profit organizations within the 18 AFNHA counties: Preston, Mineral, Hampshire, Morgan, Barbour, Tucker, Hardy, Grant, Pendleton, Upshur, Randolph, Braxton, Webster, Pocahontas, Nicholas, and Greenbrier in West Virginia; Garrett and Allegany in Maryland.
Applications are due July 31. The application portal and full guidelines can be found at www.appalachianforestnha.org/sub-grants. For more information or questions, please email grants@afnha.org.