From hiking trails to bike paths to boat ramps and more, outdoor recreation infrastructure can bring economic benefits to Utah’s communities. The Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant (UORG) Program is designed to help communities build trails and other recreation amenities to support local economic development.
The Office of Outdoor Recreation (OOR), a division of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, will open the 2019 UORG application cycle from January 10 to February 28, 2019. Grant size ranges from $5,000 to $150,000. Eligible applicants include non-profits and local or tribal governments.
Since the grants are awarded competitively, the applicant process has specific requirements and unique criteria. To help applicants put their best proposals forward, the OOR has published a detailed guide, which is embedded below and can be downloaded here. In addition, the OOR is holding a series of grant workshops across the state.
“Some counties, cities and towns are capitalizing on local outdoor recreation amenities to attract tourists to the region. Other communities find that having nearby outdoor recreation opportunities adds to the quality of life of local citizens, helps attract new residents and business talent, and can lead to an increase in local property values,” said Tom Adams, OOR director. “This guide is a vital first step for applicants to study before they start the proposal process.”
For more information on the OOR, click here.