Vermont Business Magazine The Northern Forest Center will award $424,000 over the next two years for outdoor recreation infrastructure development through the Destination Development Initiative outdoor recreation grants program.
Funding is available in Caledonia, Essex, Orleans counties in Vermont; Coos County, New Hampshire; and Oxford and Franklin counties, Maine, using funds granted to the Northern Forest Center by the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC).
“Many communities in the Northern Forest region are looking to the outdoor recreation sector as a source of economic opportunity, workforce attraction, and business development,” said Joe Short, vice president of the Northern Forest Center. “But it is also true that a lot of outdoor recreation development in the region — such as trail construction and maintenance — happens because of community groups and volunteers. This funding will support communities acting on their recreation development priorities.”
Full program details and application are available at nfcenter.org/recreation_grants.
An additional $200,000 over two years is available for projects in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom (NEK) through a separate NBRC grant to the Northeastern Vermont Development Association (NVDA). NEK applicants need to submit only one application.
“The outdoor recreation grants program is open to public and non-profit applicants for projects that design, build, maintain or market trails, parks, wayfinding and related outdoor recreation and community infrastructure and amenities,” said Short. Projects need to be consistent with community-developed plans and priorities. Grants will range from $10,000 to $50,000. This year’s application deadline is April 7, 2020.
The Northern Forest Center is a regional innovation and investment partner creating rural vibrancy by connecting people, economy, and the forested landscape.
Source: 3.11.2020 Northern Forest Center