2013 Awards Announced

On May 16, 2013, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership announced a total of $225,000 in grant awards to 18 organizations in its most recent grant cycle. A list of awards can be found here. Congratulations to the awardees and best wishes to all the applicants!

The next grant cycle is planned tentatively for late 2014.

Heritage Grants Program

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership offers matching grants to provide and leverage funding for innovative projects across the region which preserve, protect, and promote the rich historical, cultural, and natural heritage of Western North Carolina while stimulating economic opportunity.

Grants are available for the preservation, interpretation, development, and promotion of heritage resources in five thematic areas:

• Agricultural heritage
• Cherokee heritage
• Craft heritage
• Music heritage
• Natural heritage

These distinctive facets of Western North Carolina's heritage were the basis for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area designation in 2003.

Of particular interest to the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area are projects that:

• are regional or multi-county in scope
• involve active partnerships between organizations
• leverage substantial matches from project participants and other grantors

Funds for the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area's matching grants program are provided by the federal government through the National Park Service.

Special Call for Music Heritage Projects

In the 2012 Grant Cycle, the Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership has a special interest in supporting projects that are focused on the region's music heritage. Such projects may include business/marketing/hospitality training for traditional music venues and facility upgrades at traditional music venues that are managed by a local government of nonprofit entity. BRNHA is currently working with the North Carolina Arts Council to revitalize and expand the Blue Ridge Music Trails in Western North Carolina.

Proposals for projects focused on the region's agricultural, Cherokee, craft, and natural heritage continue to be welcome and will be considered for funding in this cycle.

Who Can Apply

The following types of organizations serving the 25-county Blue Ridge National Heritage Area region are eligible to apply:

• units of state and local government
• federally-recognized Indian tribes
• academic institutions
• non-profit organizations with 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service

Applicants may submit no more than one application per grant cycle. Only one project may be proposed in a single application.

Grant Cycle Timeline

2012 grant cycle announced - July, 2012
Grant information sessions - September, 2012
Deadline for grant applications - December 14, 2012
Applicants notified of funding decisions - by May 1, 2013

Grant Guidelines and Application Forms

Grant awards of up to $24,000 are available for regional or multi-county projects; awards of up to $18,000 are available for local projects. Applicants must provide at least a one-to-one match.

Details about what kinds of projects are eligible for grants can be found in the grant guidelines below:

• 2012 Heritage Grant Guidelines
• 2012 Grant Application Form
• 2012 Project Budget Form

Previous Grant Cycle Awards

The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area Partnership awarded nearly $245,000 in grants in its 2010 Grant Cycle. The list of awards can be found here.

More Information

For more information, contact:

Rob Bell
Director of Programs
Blue Ridge National Heritage Area
rob@blueridgeheritage.com
(828) 298-5330, ext. 308