ANNAPOLIS – Governor Wes Moore on Friday announced that the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture and the Maryland Historical Trust have awarded 24 African American Heritage Preservation Program grants totaling $5,000,000 to Maryland nonprofit groups for FY 2024. The grants will offer assistance to organizations and private citizens in their sponsorship of projects involving the acquisition, construction or improvement of sites related to African American heritage. 

“To build a stronger future, we must recognize our past. We need to acknowledge the broad shoulders we stand on – and use those stories to power our work,” said Gov. Wes Moore. “The African American Heritage Preservation Program is one of the best tools we have to celebrate, study and share the stories of the African American community in Maryland. African American history is American history and Maryland history – and we have a solemn duty to preserve it and learn from it.” 

In April, Governor Moore announced increasing the funding for the African American Heritage Preservation Program from $1 million to $5 million. This year’s grant awards range from $63,500 to $250,000. 

“The Maryland Historical Trust is proud to partner with the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture to co-administer a program that is a critical tool for the protection of African American sites throughout Maryland,” said Maryland Historical Trust director Elizabeth Hughes. “We are thrilled the award amount has increased and that we are able to provide 24 distinct projects with funding this year.”

“We are proud to announce this year’s awardees and greatly look forward to supporting them as they work to help preserve Maryland’s African American history, culture and heritage,” said Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture executive director Chanel Johnson. “The African American Heritage Preservation Program grant’s goal is to ensure these historically and culturally significant sites remain a part of Maryland’s history.” 

Award recipients include the following sites on the Eastern Shore:

• Malone Methodist Episcopal Church - Madison, Dorchester County
  $250,000 awarded to Harrisville/Malone Cemetery Maintenance Fund, Inc.
• Jones & Moore Luncheon/Bambricks Cards & Gifts - Cambridge, Dorchester County
  $138,000 awarded to Alpha Genesis Community Development Corporation
• Henry’s Hotel, Ocean City, Worcester County
  $250,000 awarded to Henry Hotel Foundation, Inc.
• Buffalo Soldier Living History Site - Eden, Wicomico County
  $250,000 awarded to Buffalo Soldier Living History Site Co.
• The Bellevue Passage Museum - Royal Oak, Talbot County
  $250,000 awarded to Mid-Shore Community Foundation, Inc.
• The Fruitland Community Center - Fruitland, Wicomico County
  $203,000 awarded to Fruitland Community Center, Inc.
• Grasonville Community Center - Grasonville, Queen Anne’s County
  $250,000 awarded to Grasonville Community Center
• Bryan’s Chapel and Cemetery - Grasonville, Queen Anne’s County
  $250,000 awarded to Bryan’s United Methodist Church, Inc.
• The Yellow/Hearse House - Chestertown, Kent County
  $200,000 awarded to Kent County Public Library
• American Legion Mannie Scott Post 193 Building - Denton, Caroline County
  $250,000 awarded to the American Legion, Department of Maryland, Mannie Scott Post #193, Inc.