Recreation Initiative Program Grant Cycle Announced; Workshop Slated for March 3

 

The Tennessee Recreation Initiative Program was created in 1995 by the General Assembly. TRIP grants are administered through the Department of Environment and Conservation and provide funding to governments that do not currently have parks and recreation services within their jurisdictions. Any incorporated city or county government may apply for funding through a competitive matching grant process. 

 

The grant is offered over a three-year period.  During the first two years of the program, the community will be required to match up to $50,000. The community is responsible for 100 percent of the funding during the third year.  

 

“Approximately 35 percent of Tennesseans are not currently served by an organized local parks and recreation program,” said Environment and Conservation Commissioner Jim Fyke. “Recreation is vital to our quality of life and I am always pleased to see communities access this program to help provide parks amenities for their citizens.”

 

The TRIP program provides grants to hire a professional director, establish a recreation office and to hire other staff as needed. During the 2010 grant cycle, two grants will be awarded on the basis of need and population for any city or county in Tennessee. 

 

 

The department’s Division of Recreation Educational Services will host a TRIP grant application workshop on Wednesday, March 3, at Environment and Conservation’s central office in Nashville located in the L&C Tower at 401 N. Church Street (37243). The workshop is free and provides valuable information to potential applicants about the TRIP program and application process. The workshop will be held in the L&C Tower’s 17th Floor Conference Room (B-401) from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Communities may reserve space for the workshop by contacting Carol Thompson with Recreation Educational Services at (615) 532-0208 or carol.h.thompson@tn.gov.   The workshop registration deadline is Monday, March 1. 

 

To learn more about the TRIP grant program and other recreation grant programs available, please visit www.tn.gov/environment/recreation/grants.shtml.