The Colorado State Trails Grant Program Selection Process

The Colorado State Trails Committee is responsible for the review process for the trail grant applications and makes recommendations to the Colorado State Parks Board about funding for grants. This process may change every year when grant categories and policies are updated. Please see application packet for the current year for specific deadlines and the grant process timeline.

Trail grant applications are posted on Colorado State Parks’ Web site by links on the Trails Program home page. This grant program is publicized through newsletters, this website and email information networks. The deadline for application submission may change each year. The deadline for the 2008 – 2009 cycle is Monday, November 3rd by 5:00 p.m. (Recreational Trails Grants) and Monday,December 1st, 5:00 p.m., for OHV grant applications.

Technical assistance for grant preparation is provided to applicants through four, grant writing workshops throughout the state, usually in September and October. If you wish to be notified of a grant writing workshop near your area, please email nancy.matchett@state.co.us. The maximum number of participants is limited to 25.

Grant applications are accepted as submitted and rated on their own merit. Trails Subcommittees review the applications. These subcommittees are comprised of one State Trails Committee Member, a Colorado State Trail Coordinator, and five to seven volunteer reviewers. These volunteers span the spectrum of trail recreation and include enthusiasts, conservation groups and park professionals with local governments.

The OHV Grant Subcommittee is composed of one member of the State Trails Committee and eight members from organized, OHV clubs and/or groups. Trails program and regional staff provide input to this committee and also score the grants.

The OHV Subcommittee also holds public meetings to interview grant applicants and to take public comments about the OHV grant applications. Any public input at the OHV grant presentation meeting is considered and evaluated as part of the selection process. This input is then passed on to the State Trails Committee.

Each member of a subcommittee reviews all grant applications in their category. Reviewers don’t rate grants that they support, submit or are for projects located in their area of Colorado. Each reviewer scores an application based on the merits of the project using established criteria. Reviewers also write specific comments about a project to provide constructive feedback to an applicant. Then each subcommittee recommends grants to be funded, based on the project and score, to the State Trails Committee.

Public comment on the projects is widely solicited and a public meeting of the State Trails Committee is held to review these grant applications and to provide a scheduled opportunity for public comment.

Also, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reviews any potential resource impacts of each project. All concerns are passed on to project sponsors and land managers. A summarized list of concerns is given to State Trails' staff. All land managers must provide documentation that required environmental reviews are complete.

A list of funding priorities is developed for each grant category.  The State Trails Committee approves the lists of priorities submitted by Colorado State Trails staff and the subcommittees. Next, the recommendations for funding go before the Colorado State Parks Board who must approve the grants before funding may be distributed to the grantees. Also, the Great Outdoors Colorado Board must approved any trail grants that are funded with GOCO monies.

Once this selection process is completed, the State Trails Committee reviews the application, and policies and procedures for the next year’s grant program. Updates and improvements are then submitted for comment to local government, land management agencies, trail interests, and the public. In this way, the grant selection proves continually responds to public needs, the changing, funding environment and new opportunities for trail and greenway planning.