South Carolina National Heritage Corridor
Grant Program

VISION STATEMENT

The SC National Heritage Corridor grant program, through the SC Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism, provides opportunities for communities and organizations to conserve and develop their historical, cultural and natural assets so they may contribute to the sustainable economic revitalization of the Heritage Corridor.

MISSION STATEMENT

It is the mission of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor grant program to promote development in the areas of conservation and preservation; education and interpretation; and nature-based recreation while serving economic development.

Economic Development
Projects should have the potential for providing economic opportunities related to heritage tourism through public and private partnerships

Conservation and Preservation
Projects must help conserve the historical, cultural, and natural assets of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor

Education and Interpretation
Projects should increase public awareness and appreciation of the historical, cultural, and natural assets of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor

Nature-Based Recreation
Projects should enhance the potential of natural areas to provide environmental or recreational opportunities for nature-based tourism

GRANT CATEGORY DESCRIPTIONS

Developing, implementing and maintaining a successful heritage tourism attraction is a long-term, complex process and involves many features. In order to assist communities and organizations in preparing a program to benefit the existing residents and attract visitors to the area, grants will be made available in the following categories:

A) Planning: provides funding to communities and organizations who have inventoried their community’s historical, cultural and natural assets and are interested in utilizing professional facilitation to develop a heritage tourism plan or fully develop a product development concept. Grant range: $1,000 - $5,000.
B) Product Development: provides funding for the development, conservation and implementation of historical, cultural and natural heritage tourism attractions or appropriate activities. Grant range: $1,000 - $20,000.
C) Implementation: provides funding to organizations whose operations fulfill the federal mandate of all 17 counties of the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor and will further its programmatic efforts.
D) Marketing and Visitor Services: provides funding to communities and organizations who have a heritage tourism plan and are interested in the research, planning, and promotion of heritage corridor tourism attractions, and visitor services. Regional and corridor level only. Grant range: $1,000 - $5,500.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

To be eligible, you must be a community or organization holding a tax-exempt status from the IRS or have a letter of agreement to apply through an organization that has tax-exempt status. “Organization” may involve units of federal, state or local government; a federally recognized Indian tribe; academic institutions; or non-profit organizations collaborating in partnership with a community located within the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor. All applicants must be able to meet the matching funds requirement specified below. All projects are subject to applicable federal laws, including but not limited to NEPA, NAGPRA, ADA, and NHPA- 106 Review through the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Supporting documentation is required to ensure sufficient compliance to federal and state regulations.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Funds may be used for technical assistance including but not limited to feasibility studies (engineering, architecture and marketing); interpretation, building renovation, bricks and mortar projects, museum exhibits, website creation, marketing, displays based on historical research and artifacts, conservation and preservation, agricultural heritage development and nature-based recreation. Projects that directly impact the visitor experience and that demonstrate a high degree of sustainability will be given greater consideration. Support will be considered for cultural, ethnic, arts and recreation programs to the extent that they highlight the themes of the SCNHC.

Eligible projects must be physically located within at least one of the 17 designated counties within the South Carolina National Heritage Corridor: Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Bamberg, Barnwell, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Edgefield, Georgetown, Greenwood, McCormick, Oconee, Orangeburg, Pickens and Saluda.

MATCHING FUNDS & REIMBURSEMENT

Grant applicants of the marketing, product and planning grants must provide a dollar for dollar, 50/50 reimbursable cash match to the grant request. For example, if the total proposed project budget is $20,000, the organization may request $10,000 in grant funds and must provide an additional cash match of $10,000. This match must come from funds other than federal money, such as state, local, and/or private funds. Each grant applicant must demonstrate a dollar-for-dollar cash match and provide legible invoices or receipts for all project expenses before payment will be distributed. It will be necessary to submit copies of cancelled checks (front and back) to earn reimbursement. Partial reimbursement may be given for grants exceeding $2,500 before the project is completed, according to an agreed upon payment schedule.

GRANT DEADLINES

Grant Deadline: November 15

Once Letters of Intent have been reviewed and the project deemed eligible, a copy of the appropriate application will be mailed to the address provided in the Letter of Intent. If you have not received your Application Packet by September 30, please call 803-734-1747.

All applications must be received by 5:00 P.M. on or before the due date by SCPRT. In the event the deadline falls on a weekend, the grants must be received by the following Monday at noon.