Grant Information

Grant Program Information

The Lower Mississippi Delta Initiative (LMDI) is a comprehensive and innovative effort established by Congress through Public Law 103-433 to preserve the Delta Region’s significant cultural and historic resources.
Federal funding for this program is provided by the National Park Service and administered by Jefferson National Parks Association, official non-profit partner of the LMDI Program.

REQUIREMENTS

Note: Grants are capped at $25,000. Grant requests exceeding this amount will not be considered.
Projects MAY NOT be located on federal property including, but not limited to, National Park sites.

WHO: Authorized recipients of LMDI grant funds include organizations that are exempt from federal income tax, such as, but not limited to:

  • Preservation, conservation, cultural, historical, archeological, or tourism organizations
  • Non-profit partners of public land agencies and historic or cultural sites
  • Coordinating entities associated with federally-designated National Heritage Areas
  • Tribal nations, organizations, and institutions
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities
  • State and local government entities and political subdivisions

WHAT: Projects must fit within one or more of the categories below and be located within the geographic boundaries of the Delta Region.

  • Regional Native American culture and heritage interpretation

  • Regional African-American culture and heritage interpretation

  • Public Roads and Visitor Use Plans – including interpretive additions to public ways

  • Regional Music Heritage – with specific emphasis on Mississippi Delta Blues

  • Museums – planning, implementation, education, and collection integrity

  • HBCUs – to complete surveys (including efforts to designate historic and archeological sites for the National Register of Historic Places or as a National Historic Landmark)

  • HBCUs – to stabilize, preserve and interpret historic sites and structures

  • Non-HBCU Archeological Sites, Historic Buildings or Structures

Priority consideration may be given to projects that:

  1. Can be completed within 12-18 months of award.
  2. Are funded by 50% or more in matching support from non-federal sources.
  3. Demonstrate long-term sustainability through the involvement of multiple partners.
  4. May result in increased heritage tourism in the Delta Region.
  5. Are backed by professional estimates for any necessary contract work.

Local Heritage Grants are ideal for high-quality projects where time is of the essence and outcomes are compelling:

  • The program seeks participants who will be able to report their successes that, when shared,may act to inspire further development and support of the LMDI program.
  • Sponsoring organizations should demonstrate a strong need for funding assistance as well asthe capacity to execute their project with excellence and without delay.

WHERE: Geographic and other restrictions to consider:

  • Your project must be physically located within the Delta Region as defined herein.
  • Your project may not be physically located on federal property. However, it may be sited on non-federal property within a National Heritage Area.
  • Your project may not benefit a federal agency, including NPS programs or national park system units.

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Last updated: May 1, 2023

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