Contact Eleanor Blick
IMBA Communications Manager
(720) 900-4622

(Boulder, Colo. Dec. 3, 2018) — The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is now accepting applications for the second round of its Trail Accelerator Grant. Creating and catalyzing more trails close to home is critical to IMBA's mission, and its goal is to grow the quantity and quality of mountain bike trail communities in the U.S. Many cities and towns have the interest and political support to develop mountain bike facilities and trail systems, but lack funding and/or knowledge to jump-start efforts. IMBA’s Trail Accelerator Grant is intended to help fill that gap and support visions for model trails in typically underserved states. It is generously made possible by Tom and Steuart Walton. 

Communities wanting to get started on building more trails close to home are encouraged to apply between December 3, 2018, and January 30, 2019. Trail Accelerator Grant awardees receive professional trail planning and consultation to launch their trail development efforts, which can help leverage additional interest and investment. Grants range from $5,000 to $30,000 in services for either single-site or community-wide trail plans, and must be matched by the recipient.

Three to five projects from this round will be selected to receive the grant, with the winners notified in March 2019. Professional feasibility studies, trail plans and/or other project assessments will be completed by IMBA Trail Solutions in spring and summer of 2019. 

The first round of Trail Accelerator Grants was awarded in August 2018. Recipients were La Crosse, Wisc.; Hixon, Tenn.; and DeQueen, Ark. Work has already begun in La Crosse, where IMBA Trail Solutions recently met with local stakeholders and neighbors to design an initial concept plan for trails on about 200 acres of public land with multiple neighborhood access points. 

"When I meet with the local stakeholders, I want to hear about their passion for the property,” said Mike Repyak, IMBA Trail Solutions Director of Planning and Design. “When they go out there and use the trails, where do they go? What do they see as the opportunities? Learning from the local knowledge base and then applying [Trail Solutions’] experience to the area is how we help put the best product on the ground." 

Grant Requirements

Applicants must be in one of the following states: Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio or Michigan.

Applications must be submitted by an agency such as a land trust, a community health department or a parks and recreation department, with priority given to applicants who work closely with their local mountain bike organization. 

For complete eligibility details and to apply, please visit the IMBA Trail Accelerator Grant page.

Questions regarding the application process should be directed to Jessica Rockson, IMBA Director of Programs