Recreation Grant Workshop Scheduled for June 10

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation is beginning the 2010 Recreational Trails Program grant application cycle with a workshop to help government officials, parks and recreation departments and non-profit organizations understand the grant application process. The department’s Division of Recreation Education Services will host the workshop June 10 at the Fleming Training Center at 2022 Blanton Drive in Murfreesboro. It will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT.

The pre-application process is the first step in submitting applications for the 2010 Recreational Trails Program grant cycle. Although attendance to this workshop is not mandatory to apply for funds in 2010, bonus points will be awarded to applicants that successfully complete the pre-application process.

Recreational Trails Program grants may be used for non-routine maintenance and restoration of existing trails, development and rehabilitation, trailside or trailhead facilities such as restrooms, kiosks and parking lots, construction of new trails and land acquisition for recreational trails or corridors. Federal, state and local government agencies may apply, as well as non-profit organizations that have obtained IRS 501(c)(3) status and have a written trail management agreement with the agency that owns the property where the trail project is located. 

Funding for RTP grants is provided by the Federal Highway Administration through the federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act. The Department of Environment and Conservation administers this grant program for the state of Tennessee.

To learn more about the RTP grant program and other recreation or conservation-based grant programs that may be available in the future, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/recreation.

For more information about the upcoming pre-application workshop, contact Bob Richards at (615) 532-0753 or Robert.Richards@tn.gov