African American Heritage Preservation Program

The goal of the African American Heritage Preservation Program (AAHPP) is to identify and preserve buildings, communities and sites of historical and cultural importance to the African American experience in Maryland. This competitive program, offered once per year, is supported through an annual appropriation from the Maryland General Assembly, and is administered as a joint partnership of the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture (MCAAHC) and the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). The Maryland General Assembly created the AAHPP during the 2010 session and reauthorized it, with modifications, as a permanent program during the 2015 session.

Starting in fiscal year 2024, the AAHPP has a new annual appropriation of $5 million– up from $1 million annually!

Grant awards can range from $10,000 to $250,000. Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations and local jurisdictions. Business entities and individuals may also apply for Program grants when seeking funds for a preservation or development project that serves a high public purpose. Eligible projects include acquisition, construction, capital improvement, and certain predevelopment costs for African American heritage properties. In the eight years since its inception, the AAHPP has awarded 106 grants totaling $8 million.

AAHPP Annual Report to the Governor and the General Assembly