Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership announces grant program

From Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership:

GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR HERITAGE PROJECTS

ASHEVILLE, NC – JUNE 15, 2016: The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership has announced its 2016 Heritage Grants Program, which will provide funding for projects that preserve, interpret, and promote Western North Carolina’s agricultural, craft, Cherokee, music, and natural heritage. These five distinctive legacies earned the region a Congressional designation as a National Heritage Area in 2003.

“Western North Carolina is exceptionally rich in heritage and cultural traditions,” said BRNHA Executive Director Angie Chandler. “Our grants help organizations across the region shine a spotlight on this heritage and make it an economic asset for our towns and communities.”

Nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and units of state and local governments are eligible to apply. Applicants must provide at least an equal match. The total pool of funding for the 2016 grant cycle is $180,000.

Over the past twelve years, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership has awarded 133 grants totaling over $1.9 million to projects that preserve, interpret, and develop the heritage resources of the region. These awards have in turn leveraged over $4 million in state, local, and private matches.

Grants awarded in previous cycles have supported exhibits, demonstration gardens, oral history collections, video documentaries, interpretive programs, teaching materials, artist training, visitor brochures, and the marketing of heritage destinations. The grant projects have provided engaging and authentic heritage experiences to hundreds of thousands of visitors and residents.

The deadline for grant applications is October 3, 2016. Complete information on the 2016 Heritage Grants Program can be found at blueridgeheritage.com/partners/grants.

Grant Information Sessions

BRNHA staff will hold several grant information sessions around the BRNHA region in July 2016. Attendance is optional, but is recommended for those who have not attended information sessions for previous BRNHA grant cycles. Please review the grant guidelines on the BRNHA website and RSVP to Rob Bell (rob@blueridgeheritage.com or 298-5330, ext. 308) if you plan to attend a session.

The dates and locations for the meetings are:
Cherokee

Thursday, July 7, 2016

2:00 – 3:00 pm

Museum of the Cherokee Indian

589 Tsali Boulevard

Cherokee, NC
Marion

Thursday, July 14, 2016

2:00 – 3:00 pm

Marion Train Depot

58 Depot Street

Marion, NC
Wilkesboro

Monday, July 18, 2016

2:00 – 3:00 pm

Wilkes Heritage Museum

100 East Main Street

Wilkesboro, NC
Asheville

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

11:00 am – 12:00 noon

NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Western Office

176 Riceville Road

Asheville, NC
The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area, designated by Congress and the President in November, 2003, works to protect, preserve, interpret, and develop the unique natural, historical, and cultural resources of Western North Carolina for the benefit of present and future generations, and in so doing to sustain our heritage and stimulate improved economic opportunity in our region. National Heritage Areas are locally-governed institutions that encourage residents, non-profit groups, government agencies, and private partners to work together in planning and implementing programs that preserve and celebrate America’s defining landscapes.

The views and conclusions contained in this news release are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the opinions or policies of the U.S. Government. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute their endorsement by the U.S. Government.