DNR Will Award Iron Belle Trail Grants In 2018

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will have a fourth round of grant funding available in 2018 for communities and organizations working on Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail. Proposals are due Jan. 5, 2018. Grants will be announced in March 2018.

The primary focus of this round of grants is on Iron Belle Trail segments that are prepared to go into construction in 2018, engineering and design of projects, and the purchase of Iron Belle Trail signage. The bike trail passes through Oakland and Macomb counties before reaching Detroit.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources partners, communities and eligible nonprofits will have the opportunity to compete for grant money for Iron Belle Trail projects. The maximum request is $30,000. A match is not required, but strongly recommended. Only communities or eligible nonprofits with projects on designated Iron Belle Trail routes are eligible for funding.

“Funds are available to local communities to plan, design, sign and construct biking and hiking connectors on the Iron Belle Trail, from Ironwood to Detroit,” said Paul Yauk, DNR state trails coordinator. “These dollars will help bring together partners and create more progress on this showcase trail across the state.”

This is the fourth year the DNR has administered Iron Belle Trail mini-grants. The total amount of funding available this round is still to be determined. Since 2015, $950,000 in grants has supported nearly 50 Iron Belle Trail projects.

Proposal forms and other information about the trail is available on the DNR website at michigan.gov/ironbelle.

Michigan’s Iron Belle Trail has two distinct routes for hiking and bicycling that, together, cover more than 2,000 miles of trail. The trail provides economic, social and health benefits for communities and users across the state, from Belle Isle in Detroit to Ironwood in the western Upper Peninsula. It is made possible by federal, state and local units of government and numerous organizations and partners.

Photo by bangkokbikehash via Flickr Commons