Trail Funding

Developing and identifying trail funding for New York State OHV clubs is part of the NYSORVA mission. New York does not currently have dedicated ATV funding similar to the snowmobile trail fund, no dedicated trail system for our use, and no public program recognizing our interests-unlike every other trail-based form of recreation in NY. With the lack of registration based funding, we have identified and in some cases helped develop the following opportunities.

Private Trail Funding
Recently, some of the manufacturers that build the products we ride have thrown their hat into the ring to support trail development. Please keep in mind our supporters the next time you purchase.

Polaris ‘T.R.A.I.L.S.’ Grant Program – U.S. Only [Link to application form]
Promoting Land Access, Safety and Trail Development Programs

The objective is to provide grants to U.S. National and State ATV organizations for trail development and maintenance projects, safety and education initiatives, lobbying, and other projects to increase or maintain land access.

Yamaha OHV G.R.A.N.T. Initiative [Link to application form]
Yamaha Dealers and Customers “Guaranteeing Riding Access on our Nations Trails”

The Yamaha “OHV G.R.A.N.T. Initiative” is a proactive, grassroots program supported by Yamaha Dealers and Customers nationwide promoting safe, responsible riding and sustainable, open riding areas.
Each quarter, Yamaha will accept applications from non-profit organizations such as National Forests and Associations, OHV Riding Clubs and Associations, and National, State, Local Government Agencies and Associations. A review committee then reviews each application and awards grants to deserving projects.

Some examples of how these GRANTs will be used include:

• Trail development, restoration and maintenance.
• Trail signage and map production.
• Staging area construction, renovation and maintenance.
• Safety and education.

In the absence of a dedicated trail fund for ATVs and off-highway motorcycles (which are ATVs under NY law), there are three main public-based sources of funding for your projects (creative private funding sources are not covered here):

• One is to get a gas station to record every purchase of gas into an ATV or intended for an ATV (or trailbike) and to apply for a state gas tax refund of $.08/gallon; the vendor then donates the refund to the club managing the local trails. This is being done successfully by many snowmobile clubs and has yet to be widely utilized by ATV or OHM clubs that we know of. Since the gas is used off-road and the tax is to fund roads, the state is obligated to refund the money. The form FT-946 and instructions are at NY Taxation site.
• Another is to apply for a Recreational Trails Program grant. RTP is a federal block grant to the states and is administered through NYS Office of Parks (OPRHP). 30% of the typically $1m+/year pot is earmarked for motorized-only grants, 40% for combined motor/non-motor, and the remainder for non-motorized-only trail projects and facilities. It is hard to do, and you better know a grant writer (usually a town or county agency can give you guidance or co-op with you to process a grant application), and your best chance of getting a grant historically has been for equipment like a tractor rather than for direct trail funding due to SEQRA rules; and multi-use will get more points toward approval. To date, mainly snowmobile clubs have utilized all the grants and then mostly for grooming machines for the above reason.
• Yet another is to approach County Legislatures for grants. Currently Jefferson has a small multi-use trail grant program and other counties are contemplating establishing their own in a similar manner if the State will not rise to the need.

Also, you might propose a project to your State Senator or Assembly Member with the reasoning of the potential for increase in local tourism, a hot upstate issue, in order to get funding through a “member item,” or funding which is earmarked for distribution to a members district for pet projects that benefit his or her constituents.

Here is some help for organizing: Organize a Club