NORBA to award trail access grants; IMBA to assist in selection process

IMBA Trail News
Volume 11, Number 4
September-October 1998

The National Off-Road Bicycle Association (NORBA) has announced a new grant program, Trail Tune-Up, to create, maintain and restore trails that are used for mountain bike racing. During the next year, 12 grants of $500 will be awarded to NORBA and IMBA clubs as part of the Trail Tune-Up program. Grants will support trail projects that preserve or improve trail access for mountain bike competition and recreation.

Funding for the Trail Tune-Up program comes from donations by NORBA members who contribute to a voluntary land access fund when they purchase or renew their NORBA racing licenses. This new program builds on the relationship between NORBA and IMBA. IMBA will coordinate the Trail Tune-Up grant application process and make recommendations to a grant awards committee that includes IMBA board member Jay Franklin, Iron Horse race promoter Ed Zink, Mountain Bike magazine editor Zapata Espinoza and pro racer Dave Wiens. (NORBA and its individual membership already supports IMBA with a generous $1-per-license-fee donationmoney that is used primarily to underwrite IMBA's administration of the National Mountain Bike Patrol.)

Leslie Klein, managing director of NORBA, explained, "This grant program is designed to support NORBA event organizers and clubs when they need help gaining or preserving access to trails for racing. All NORBA members recognize our collective responsibility to work for trail access because the future of our sport depends on it. Working together with IMBA the trail access experts we hope that we'll be able to fund worthy trail projects that benefit the entire mountain biking community."

IMBA executive director Tim Blumenthal commented, "This is yet another example of NORBA's leadership and the personal commitment of NORBA racers to making our sport better. For the last three years NORBA has been one of IMBA's top supporters. While this program is focused on trails that are used for competition, it will improve our sport for all cyclists."

NORBA, the governing association of mountain bike racing in the United States, is an Above and Beyond member of IMBA and the Founding Sponsor of the National Mountain Bike Patrol.

For more information on Trail Tune-Up or to request a grant application, contact John Alegranti at IMBA's Boulder office or email to . NORBA can be reached at: NORBA, Attn: Trail Tune-Up, One Olympic Plaza, Colorado Springs, CO 80909; phone: 970-578-4856;.