The purpose of the Great Trails State Program (GTSP) is to provide grants to expand the trail system in North Carolina.
March 26, 2024
Vonda Martin, Manager Grants and Outreach NC Division of Parks and Recreation Vonda.Martin@ncparks.gov
Point of contact: Recreation Resources Service (RRS)
Charlynne Smith, Director
Holly Henry, University Program Associate
Krista White, Graduate Research Student
Consultants:
Central North: Trey Fouché
Northeast: Scott Payne
Southeast: Brittany Shipp
Central South: Announced 4/1/24
West: Blake Covington
Highlights:
• $25 million available
• ALL trail types
• ALL phases of trail development
• GTSP administered by NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) – Division of Parks and Recreation (DPR)
• Contact Recreation Resources Service (RRS) for application assistance.
Eligible applicants:
• A municipality or county.
• A regional council of government created pursuant to Part 2 of Article 20 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes.
• A public authority, as defined in G.S. 159-7, and
• A nonprofit entity (501c3) provided the entity demonstrates in a manner acceptable to the Department that the unit or units of local government where the eligible trail project will be conducted have been notified of and support the trail project.
Contact Recreation Resources Service (RRS) for application assistance. All applicants should register to submit an online application through WebGrants. If you already have an account, you do not need to re-register.
Eligible projects include:
1. Planning & Feasibility (P&F)
2. Design & Engineering (D&E)
3. Acquisition
4. Acquisition + Planning & Feasibility
5. Acquisition + Design & Engineering
6. Acquisition + Construction
7. Construction
8. Maintenance
Contact Recreation Resources Service (RRS) for application assistance.
All applicants should register to submit an online application through WebGrants.
If you already have an account, you do not need to re-register.
Project maximum and minimums:
• Max Grant request: $500,000
• Minimum Grant request:
• Planning & Design: $100,000
• Acquisition (all types): $100,000
• Construction of natural surface trail: $100,000
• Maintenance of natural surface trail: $100,000
• Maintenance of paved multi-use trail/greenway trail: $250,000.
• Construction of paved multi-use trail/greenway: $300,000
Contact Recreation Resources Service (RRS) for application assistance. All applicants should register to submit an online application through WebGrants. If you already have an account, you do not need to re-register.
Project match:
• Tier 1 ($1:$4): in the amount of one non-State dollar ($1.00) match for every four dollars ($4.00) of GTSP state funds.
• Tier 2 ($1:$2): in the amount of one non-State dollar ($1.00) match for every two dollars ($2.00) of GTSP state funds
• Tier 3 ($1:$1): in the amount of one non-State dollar ($1.00) of match for every one dollar ($1.00) of State funds. Non-cash matches may include general volunteer labor, skilled volunteer labor and/or service, donated equipment and operator, donated materials, or donated land value. Non-cash matches must be quantifiable and documented. More information on quantifying non-cash matches is available in the new application guide. Contact Recreation Resources Service (RRS) for application assistance. All applicants should register to submit an online application through WebGrants. If you already have an account, you do not need to re-register.
Award Timeline:
• Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO): March 1, 2024
• Application Deadline: September 3, 2024
• Awards made: Early 2025
• Contracts to selected recipients: Issued within 30 days of award announcement
• Project Period: 3 years
Contact Recreation Resources Service (RRS) for application assistance.
All applicants should register to submit an online application through WebGrants.
If you already have an account, you do not need to re-register.
Evaluation Criteria:
• Readiness (60 possible points): Includes clear objectives, secure match, proven record with trail projects, and sustainable design
• Impact (20 possible points): Includes connections to daily destinations and/or existing trail networks, increases access, and eliminates trail gap.
• Partners and Community Support (10 possible points): Includes support from community where trail will be built, support from other partners or organizations, and demonstrated public support.
• Management & Maintenance (10 possible points): Includes long-term maintenance plan and emergency management plan. Contact Recreation Resources Service (RRS) for application assistance. All applicants should register to submit an online application through WebGrants. If you already have an account, you do not need to re-register.
Award Selection Factors:
• The applicant’s description / justification for the project
• The applicant’s rank based on the scoring system
• The geographical distribution of grants across North Carolina
• Use of the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI)
• The distribution of grants based on wealth of the local government where the project is being implemented
• The distribution of funds among eligible project types - planning/design, acquisition, construction and maintenance
• The amount of funds and match that the applicant is requesting/providing
• The amount of GTSP funds available
Contact Recreation Resources Service (RRS) for application assistance.
All applicants should register to submit an online application through WebGrants. If you already have an account, you do not need to re-register.
• Program Summary – Federal grant program
• Deadline: September 6, 2024
• Funding Range: $10,000-$100,000
• Eligible Applicants:
• Local governments and non-profits
• Eligible Projects
• New trail/greenway construction or renovation
RTP Staff: Amanda Smithson, Trail Specialist: amanda.smithson@ncparks.gov
Talivia Brodie, Grant Manager: talivia.brodie@ncparks.gov
• Approved trail/greenway facilities & trail amenities
• Purchase of Tools to Construct &/or Renovate
• Land Acquisition for Trail Purposes
• Planning, Legal, Environmental, and Permitting Costs - up to 10% of grant amount
• Match Requirement
• 25% flexible match
Contact: Amanda Smithson, Trail Specialist and Talivia Brodie, RTP Grant Manager
All applicants should register to submit an online application through WebGrants.
In review:
§ Point of contact: Recreation Resources Service (RRS)
§ Applications will be accepted through WebGrants only
§ Non-State match – can use general fund dollars and federal grants
§ Review the forms in WebGrants for volunteer labor, skilled volunteer labor and/or service, donated equipment and operator, donated materials, or donated land value
§ Additional questions can be posted to the GTSP funding opportunity in WebGrants.
Thank you for attending the Great Trails State Program funding webinar.
Contact Recreation Resources Service (RRS) for application assistance.
All applicants should register to submit an online application through WebGrants.
If you already have an account, you do not need to re-register.