The application period for the Mississippi Hills Community Grant Program is coming to an end on Feb. 1.
The Mississippi Hills announced the program during their September 2015 meeting and started accepting grant applications Dec. 15. The Alliance is the coordinating entity for the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area, which covers all or portions of 30 counties in North Mississippi eligible to apply for grants.
Grants available include Transportation grants up to $1,000 for school field trips; Flash grants up to $2,500 for local cultural and heritage projects; Small Cap grants up to $5,000 and Large Cap grants up to $20,000 for larger community or regional initiatives. The Large Cap grants are available to Alliance dues-paying members only.
Mississippi Hills Executive Director Mary Cates Williams said, “We really like the potential of this program and feel like it can make a real difference by providing funds to all types of cultural and heritage endeavors. We have established a $150,000 grant fund in this year’s budget and we hope to see it fully disbursed.”
All awarded grants carry a Federal match requirement of 1:1 with the applicants’ match coming from either cash or a cash/in-kind combination. Those interested in learning more about the program will find complete guidelines and applications at the Hills website mississippihills.org.
“There is still time to complete your grant application, don’t miss out on this great opportunity for your cultural and heritage projects,” Williams said.
The CREATE Foundation in Tupelo will administer the grants. Successful applicants will be announced March 16.
The Mississippi Hills NHA is comprised of 30 counties (19 whole and 11 partial) with boundaries being the Tennessee state line to the north, the Alabama state line to the east, Highway 14 to the south and I-55 to the west and is one of the 49 NHA’s in the United States. Operations are funded through a combination of member dues, legislative support and an annual congressional appropriation to the Interior Department.
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