Iron Belle Trail logoThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that a third round of grant funding is available for communities and organizations working on sections of trail that will be part of Michigan’s two Iron Belle Trail routes. Proposals are due Jan. 9, 2017.
Communities or eligible non-profits located on the two trail routes are eligible for funding. Approximately $350,000 in grant funding is available and the maximum request is $30,000. A match is highly recommended.
Eligible items for round-three funding include:
Engineering and design assistance
Construction project assistance
Purchase and installation of Iron Belle Trail signage
“Michigan is known as ‘The Trails State’ with good reason,” said Paul Yauk, DNR state trails coordinator. “The Iron Belle Trail connects communities across the entire state. Our partners are making tremendous strides with their grant dollars to make the Iron Belle Trail a reality.”
Yauk also said that recent Iron Belle Trail grants have helped fund projects such as the 1.25-mile extension of the Falling Waters Trail in Concord and the completion of the Bay-Saginaw connector trail that opened in October.
Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail – stretching from Belle Isle Park in Detroit to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula – features two distinct routes for hiking and bicycling that together will cover 2,000 scenic miles. The trail links existing trails and provides greater economic, transportation, social and health benefits for trail users and communities. It is made possible by federal, state and local units of government and many organizations across the state working together.
For more information, contact Kristen Bennett at bennettk@michigan.gov or 248-634-9759.
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