Annapolis, MD - Four Rivers: The Heritage Area of Annapolis, London Town & South County is pleased to announce that the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) has approved fiscal year 2009 funding for four grant project proposals within this heritage area. These grant funds of $186,916 will help support development of regional heritage-related projects totaling more than $397,000. All grants are fully matched at the local level, thus leveraging other funding to develop new projects, products, and activities consistent with the city, county and state-approved heritage area Management Plan.

In addition to receiving $100,000 for operating and program assistance, Four Rivers assisted the following local heritage-related organizations in obtaining MHAA funding:

The Annapolis Maritime Museum will receive $50,000 in grant funding to support an interactive exhibit entitled, “Oysters on the Half Shell,” the first component of its new Bay Experience Center in the reconstructed McNasby Oyster Company building in Eastport. Damaged by Hurricane Isabel in 2003, the reconstructed McNasby's will be a 7,000 square foot museum with exhibits, classroom, meeting room, and public amenities, showcasing the area's rich maritime heritage. The “Oysters on the Half Shell” exhibit will bring visitors “face-to-face” with oysters, terrapins, blue crabs, rockfish and other indigenous fauna and flora of the Chesapeake Bay.

Historic Annapolis Foundation was awarded a capital project grant of $17,500 for repair and painting of damaged exterior wood elements of the William Paca House, an outstanding example of Georgian architecture that serves as the key interpretive site of the Historic Annapolis Foundation. An educational component on the Foundation’s website will document the preservation process and teach viewers about the importance and methodology of this challenging type of preservation project.

Historic London Town and Gardens was awarded $19,416 to research, produce, and distribute an 8-minute video that will introduce visitors to the site, reflecting new improvements and programming that include a $5.1 million visitor center facility with exhibits, archaeology lab and horticultural center, as well as its expanded reconstructed historic area and major upgrades to its 8-acre woodland and ornamental gardens.

The operating and program assistance grant to the Four Rivers Heritage Area supports activities such as the annual mini-grants program, the annual heritage awards, regional interpreter training, area museum director networking meetings, educational workshops, and new economic development and capacity-building initiatives.

“Four Rivers is committed to assisting our heritage partners obtain the funding they need to further their missions and develop new programs and outreach to the public, to preserve and enhance our regional history and heritage,” said Executive Director Carol Benson.

Four Rivers, one of Maryland’s eleven state-certified heritage areas, is part of the Maryland Heritage Areas Program. For more information, please visit www.fourriversheritage.org.