The Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area (MGCNHA) program of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is seeking applicants for its 2024 Heritage Community Grants program. 

To help accomplish the goals and objectives of its Management Plan, the MGCNHA offers matching grants to provide and leverage funding for innovative projects across the region that preserve, interpret, and develop heritage resources that expand economic opportunity.

The purpose of the MGCNHA Heritage Community Grant program is to enhance, conserve, and provide connectivity to cultural and natural resources of Mississippi’s six coastal counties through identification, interpretation, and promotion. Residents and visitors alike benefit from increased awareness and appreciation of the environment, history, culture, traditions, and lifestyles of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. To date, the MGCNHA has funded 56 grants totaling $1,073,265 and leveraging another $1,514,905 in matching contributions from local governments and private sector with a total investment of $2,588,170. These grants have funded projects in all six counties of South Mississippi.

The range for each grant application request starts at $5,000 and may not exceed $75,000. Funding for the MGCNHA Heritage Community Grant program is provided by the federal government through the National Park Service. 

Entities that are eligible to apply include city, county, state governments, universities, and non-profit groups. Recognized Gulf Coast Outpost Businesses are also eligible to apply.

There will be a conference call at 10 a.m. Friday, February 16, 2024, for those who have questions about the applications. For call-in information please email heritage@dmr.ms.gov.

Applications are available at dmr.ms.gov and msgulfcoastheritage.ms.gov. The deadline for submissions is 5:00 p.m. Thursday, March 14, 2024.  

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting, and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.