Accepting Preliminary Applications through 4:30 p.m., July 31, 2009.

Overview

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is a reimbursement grant program that provides for the creation and maintenance of trails and trail facilities. The program is funded through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and administered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreaion (DCR).

RTP funds come from federal gasoline tax revenues, some of which are used for recreation activities and for non-gasoline tax supported roads. FHWA prescribes many of the regulations governing this program. Grants may go to registered nonprofit organizations, city governments, county governments or other government entities but must be considered in accord with guidance from the Virginia Recreational Trails Advisory Committee. The RTP requires that 30 percent of trail program funds be used for motorized recreational trail uses, 30 percent for non-motorized recreational trails uses, and 40 percent for proposals with the greatest number of compatible recreational purposes and/or those that provide for innovative recreational trail corridor sharing (multiple-use trails).

This is a reimbursement. The sponsoring entity must be able to finance the project while requesting periodic reimbursements. All projects must have at least a 20 percent match by the sponsor in total cost. Proposals for planning, gap analysis, feasibility studies or any combination thereof are ineligible.

DCR awards grant funding for projects that enhance trail opportunities to bring about results not otherwise possible. Therefore, RTP grants that replace other potential or actual trail funding will not be awarded.

RTP grants are for projects with primarily recreational value rather than those with more utilitarian transportation value. Grants are made for between $25,000 and $100,000.

This year, a two-phase application process is being used. The first phase requires applicants to submit a Preliminary Application. The second phase requires completion of the Proposal Description and Environmental Screening Application (PDESA). Only those applicants selected to advance to the second phase need to complete the PDESA. DCR uses this two-phase approach so that applicants need not write time-consuming proposals for which funding is unlikely.

Preliminary Applications must be received by 4:30 p.m. on July 31 2009. Those received after this time will not be considered.

How to compete for a 2009 Recreational Trails Program Award:

1. Applicants are highly encouraged to read the 2009 RTP Manual (PDF), which has a detailed program description and covers eligibility, match requirements, and program rules and regulations. Also, click on frequently asked questions (FAQ) and grant-writing tips for more information.
2. Applicants must complete the Preliminary Application (PDF). This application is a fillable PDF. It includes both questions with drop-down list responses and fields for narrative descriptions. All questions on the Preliminary Application must be answered in the spaces provided. Unless you have access to advanced Adobe software, the Preliminary Application cannot be saved. Applicants may wish to complete the Preliminary Application one page at a time and then printing the individual page to avoid having to complete the entire document in one sitting.
   
3. Eight paper copies and one electronic version of the Preliminary Application must be submitted to DCR no later than 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2009.
   
4. Applicants with active Recreational Trails Program grants or Land and Water Conservation Fund grants, should contact DCR for eligibility for the 2009 RTP grant cycle.
   
5. Review and Notification Process:
   
   1. Applications will be reviewed and scored by the Virginia Recreational Trails Advisory Committee. Click here (PDF) for the 2009 scoring criteria. In addition to the scoring criteria, the committee will take into account the following factors when selecting projects to advance to the second phase of the competition: performance on previous or current grants with DCR; geographic distribution; and the conservation status of the associated property.
      
   2. Applicants will be notified in writing regarding whether or not their proposal has been selected to advance to the second phase of the competition.
      
   3. Applicants whose projects are selected to advance to the second phase will be instructed to complete the Proposal Description and Environmental Screening Application (PDESA) [(PDF] by an announced deadline.

Recreational Trails Program Workshop

DCR will hold a grant workshop on the Recreational Trails Program on Friday, July 17, 2009. Staff will provide an overview of the RTP Program, and cover eligibility, applications and the grant selection process.

The workshop will be held in the First Floor Training Room, Virginia Department of Forestry, 900 Natural Resources Drive, Charlottesville, Va. Space is limited; please RSVP no later than July 14, 2009, to synthia.waymack@dcr.virginia.gov. Reference RTP Workshop in the subject line.