The final stimulus/recovery bill passed by Congress has a Transportation Enhancements set-aside of $825 million which is equivalent to a full year of TE funding. If allocated on a per capita basis, Kansas will receive approximately $7 million. This is the amount KDOT allocates for TE funding every other year. So, the big question is where is the other $7 million going? Is KDOT diverting it to highways contrary to the intent of Congress? About 60% of TE funds are used for bike-ped projects. If you know of any bike-ped projects for which the design work is already done (or can be completed within 120 days), contact KDOT Transportation Enhancements Coordinator Kaye Jordan-Cain at (785) 296-0280 or by e-mail.
The next meeting of Sunflower Recreational Trails, Inc. will be held this Saturday (21 February) in Council Grove, a national historic landmark. The meeting will be from 11:00 am to 2:00 p.m. in the Hays House, the oldest restaurant west of the Mississippi River. Items of discussion include railbanking initiatives, fundraising, Transportation Enhancements and participation in the Kansas Sampler. There will be a field trip to the Flint Hills Nature Trail following the meeting. All trails advocates are invited to attend.
Over the last few years, many foundations and trusts have started to fund the development of trails. However, funding for trails may now be temporarily cut back. Due to the broad decline in the stock market and lower interest rates, portfolios of foundations and trusts have been shrinking (at least on paper) and foundations only have to distribute five percent of assets each year. Plus, the recession is also shifting funding priorities to those charities which directly help those in need. The end result is less funding for trails for the next two or three years.
That said, foundations and trusts are now discovering the health benefits of trails. For example, health foundations such as the Sunflower Foundation now fund trail development ($15,000 grants with required $15,000 match). Childhood obesity is a growing problem, plus seniors continue to have a high incidence of cardiovascular disease. That is why it is vital to get children out onto trails so they will develop a love of nature and outdoor exercise. Well-designed trails attract children because they want to explore. Many seniors want to exercise for health and social interaction. So, when applying for grants, be sure to talk about the health benefits of trails.
When searching for grants for your trail project, check out the Kansas Directory of Foundations (2008-09) at your local library (if they don't have it, get them to order it or get it by interlibrary loan). Those foundations based in your region should be contacted first because they are more likely to give to a local project. Be sure to find out the grant guidelines, deadlines, types of grants made, and average amounts of grants. Remember we have a great product — all we need to do is get people excited about it. Also, remember that it is a numbers game: if you send out 20 grant proposals, letters of inquiry or grant applications, you might get a positive response from one. But don't give up on the other 19. Apply to them again in a couple of years--they will then be familiar with your project and maybe their funding priorities will have shifted — possibly in your favor. Let's build trail!