Minneapolis,
MN (5/20/2008) - Polaris Industries
is proud to announce the completion of its
second year of T.R.A.I.L.S. grants. In more
than two years, the Polaris T.R.A.I.L.S. Grant
Program has granted $700,057 in funds to local,
state and National ATV Clubs. In this first
round of 2008, Polaris granted $108,400 to
11 organizations in eleven states. To date,
Polaris has assisted 78 ATV organizations
in 42 states across the U.S.
The first of its kind in the ATV industry,
the 'T.R.A.I.L.S.' grant program was launched
in January 2006 for ATV clubs, associations
and grassroots groups. ATV riders and the
trails they use are the lifeblood of the
sport and Polaris aimed to create a program
to help.
T.R.A.I.L.S.
Stands for: |
|
T
= Trail Development R
= Responsible Riding A
= Access I = Initiatives
L = Lobbying
S = Safety |
The T.R.A.I.L.S. program makes funds available
to not-for-profit national, state and local
organizations in the United States to ensure
the future of ATV riding.
The grant program encompasses two main
objectives - promoting safe and responsible
riding, and preserving access. Funds can
be used by organizations for trail development
and maintenance projects, safety and education
initiatives, lobbying and other projects
to increase and maintain land access.
"The consistently growing interest
in this program is evidence enough of the
dire need to secure legal riding places
in the United States," said Mike Dougherty,
vice president of the ATV division at Polaris.
"We are committed to the ongoing success
of our
program and hope riders at every level
will have a more positive riding experience
be it locally, statewide or nationally because
of our efforts."
The grants ranged from $8,500 to the maximum
$10,000 and will be applied toward: trail
development, expansion, improvements, reconstruction
and connections; an off road adventure park;
ATV safety training school and DVD; national
forest trail mapping; and lobbying efforts
to re-open state forests for off-road vehicle
use.
The fifth round of T.R.A.I.L.S.
grant recipients are:
Local Organizations: |
|
- North Alabama Trail Riders Association
(Alabama)
- Harlan County Ridge Runners ATV
Club Inc. (Kentucky)
- Gila Rough Riders (New Mexico)
- Gold Country ATV Association
(Nevada)
- Cedar Mountain Sledders &
OHV Club (Utah)
- Florence County ATV Club Inc.
(Wisconsin)
|
State Organizations: |
|
- ATV Maine
- New Jersey Off-Highway Vehicle
Association
- New York Specialty Off Road Vehicle
Association
- South Dakota Off Highway Vehicle
Coalition
|
National Organizations: |
|
- USDA Forest Service, Cibola Ntl.
Forest, Black Kettle District (Oklahoma)
|
For more information on the 'T.R.A.I.L.S.'
grant program and an application form, visit
the Polaris Web site at www.polarisindustries.com
and click on "Riders," then select
"Right to Ride."
Polaris
T.R.A.I.L.S Grant Program Application Form
Grant applications are reviewed two times
per year -- in March and September, with
corresponding submission deadlines of March
1 and September 1. Organizations must have
501c3, 501c7 or non-profit organization
status. Project funding, or matching funding,
from other sources is an important criteria
to be considered for a T.R.A.I.L.S. grant.