When you live along the North Shore, you’re bound to come across something nearly every day that is unique and exclusive to the area. It’s never easy to forget what a truly fascinating place it is to live in. If you simply look around you, you can always see some aspect of the whimsicality that puts this region apart from any other. Thriving heritage and culture illustrate and illuminate the area, and each incoming tide is filled with the antiquated and charismatic charm that is Essex County.
It’s no big surprise that Essex County was, almost 20 years ago, designated as a National Heritage Area by Congress. The reminiscent history and captivating nature that characterize the region do more than speak for themselves, giving the Essex National Heritage Area’s Commission all the more incentive to put efforts forth to preserve the resources and historic elements of the surrounding area.
Part of what the Essex Heritage does to preserve the area is create public and private partnerships, which look to support any groups or organizations in the region that reflect Essex Heritage’s mission: to protect and enhance the heritage of Essex County. The Partnership Grant Program, one of the better known awards that Essex Heritage has been running for a while now, has just announced its 2015 grant.
The Partnership Grant Program of 2015 Essex Heritage is offering will award 15 Essex County organizations grants in the amount of $1500. Essex Heritage offers this to any organizations that steward the region’s heritage, because of the importance an endowment as such can have on them. “We recognize that many organizations need seed money for noteworthy projects that preserve and promote our cultural heritage.” Essex Heritage CEO, Annie C. Harris states, proud to be offering the grant another year.
From now until Monday, February 16, all municipalities and qualified nonprofit organizations have the opportunity to apply online for the 2015 grant. There are three qualifying categories these organizations must fall under, defining what the grant will be used for in the organization that receives it. The categories are as follows:
o Education- creating or developing educational opportunities for youth
o Interpretation- increasing awareness and understanding of the region’s heritage
o Preservation- preserving or enhancing historic structures, landscapes or cultural resources
Enhancing and preserving the heritage and legacy along the North Shore and the Lower Merrimack River Valley for the past 19 years, Essex Heritage encompasses all of the 34 cities and towns making up Essex County. By offering this grant year after year, the non-profit organization shows its passion for getting the public involved in the enrichment and conservation of the area, and its astounding, enduring integrity to the surrounding communities.
For more information about applying for the Partnership Grant, visit essexheritage.org/grants or call 978-740-0444.