National Forest System Trail Stewardship Partner Funding Program
Eligibility for the USFS Trail Stewardship Partner Funding Program is limited to non-profits (including 501(c)6 nonprofits like IOGA). If we have member-outfitters, who are already performing trail work on USFS managed lands and are interested in participating, then IOGA is willing to explore the opportunity further with USFS and the Funding organization.
Here's the Gist of the Possible Opportunity:
Many of our member outfitters are already, year-to-year, performing trail maintenance and improvement on USFS lands.
A number of these outfitters already performing trail work are participating in the USFS Fee-Offset Program, others are not.
For outfitters already performing trail work on USFS managed lands, it is possible that this work could qualify and cover the required "In-Kind" match for the Funding Program.
Should that be the case (1. that trail work performed by outfitters be counted as 'match' and 2. that IOGA submit and receive a grant through this funding program) then participating outfitters could theoretically receive some [limited] compensation (in addition to fee-offset) for the trail work they perform during the Summer/Fall Field Season (~May-December) '21.
At this point, before moving forward, IOGA is looking to first gauge whether any of our members would be interested in participating.
If you are: (1) a member outfitter, (2) you perform trail work (in particular, will be performing trail work between May-December 2021), and (3) would be interested in this opportunity if we could bring it together, then please let us know by sending us an email (office@ioga.org) by April 2nd.
This is a quick turnaround, but if we get word from members that they are interested in the opportunity, then IOGA will work with our partners at the Forest Service to organize a call to discuss details with interested parties.
General Details and Links Re: the Funding Program
Deadline for Proposals: April 9th, 2021
Grants for work on any National Forest trail system, motorized or non-motorized trails, both inside and outside of wilderness.
Work usually performed May-December 2021
Grants range from $2,000-$20,000
Requires a 1:1 non-federal cash or in-kind match (work that outfitters are already doing can meet this requirement)
