Polaris Grants $46,500 to ATV Organizations

To complete the third year of the company’s T.R.A.I.L.S. grant program, Polaris Industries announced the granting of $46,500 to five organizations in five states. In more than three years, the Polaris T.R.A.I.L.S. Grant Program has granted $746,557 in funds to local, state and National ATV Clubs. To date, Polaris has assisted 83 organizations in 42 states across the U.S.

The first of its kind in the ATV industry, the ‘T.R.A.I.L.S.’ grant program was launched in January 2006 for ATV clubs, associations and grassroots groups. ATV riders and the trails they use are the lifeblood of the sport and Polaris aimed to create a program to help.

The T.R.A.I.L.S. program makes funds available to not-for-profit national, state and local organizations in the United States to ensure the future of legal ATV riding.

T.R.A.I.L.S. stands for:
T = Trail Development
R = Responsible Riding
A = Access
I = Initiatives
L = Lobbying
S = Safety

The grant program encompasses two main objectives – promoting safe and responsible riding, and preserving access. Funds can be used by organizations for trail development and maintenance projects, safety and education initiatives, lobbying and other projects to increase and maintain land access.

“Polaris continues to see increasing interest in our grants program,” said Matt Homan, vice president and general manager of the Off-Road Division at Polaris. “We continue to be committed to the organizations who work diligently to ensure the future of our sport.”

The grants ranged from $7,000 to the maximum $10,000 and will be applied toward: trail development, improvements, expansion, education and the construction of an ATV safety course.

The sixth round of T.R.A.I.L.S. grant recipients are:

Local Organizations
Long Island Recreational Trails Conservatory (New York)
Balsam Trail Blazers ATV Club (Minnesota)
Birdseye Mountain ATV Club (Vermont)

State Organizations
Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Association

National Organizations
USDA Forest Service- Ironton Ranger District (Ohio)

For more information on the ‘T.R.A.I.L.S.’ grant program and an application form, visit the Polaris Web site at www.polarisindustries.com and click on “Riders,” then select “Right to Ride.” http://www.pi54.com/ATV/PDFs/TRAILSGrantAppForm.pdf

Grant applications are reviewed two times per year -- in March and September, with corresponding submission deadlines of March 1 and September 1. Organizations must have 501c3, 501c7 or non-profit organization status. Project funding, or matching funding, from other sources is an important criteria to be considered for a T.R.A.I.L.S. grant.

source....