Maritime heritage grants get funded
A long-dormant program that funds maritime heritage programs is getting a new lease on life thanks to an infusion of funds from the sale of obsolete government ships. Officials at the National Park Service (NPS) are preparing to accept applications from state and local governments, museums, libraries, non-profits and foundations that run maritime heritage or education projects, ranging from restoring historic ships to preserving lighthouses — the first funding since 1998. The National Maritime Heritage Grants Program, which is the only federal funding source for maritime programs, will receive $7 million over four years from the scrapping of vessels from the Maritime Administration’s National Defense Reserve Fleet. As required by the National Maritime Heritage Act, 25% of the profit from these sales goes to maritime academies, 25% percent for the National Park Service’s maritime heritage grants, and 50% for the acquisition, maintenance and repair of vessels in the National Defense Reserve Fleet. The Maritime Administration administers funds. For more heritage grant information, contact Robert Sutton, chief historian at NPS: [email protected] or call 202-354-2214. — Pamela Glass
