Apply for a Grant

The Division of Parks and Recreation, the North Carolina Trails Program and the North Carolina Trails Committee value trail projects that are legal, safe, managed and provide connectivity, reasonable public access and parking.

The Trails Program staff are ready, willing and available to assist in all phases of the application process of projects that are construction ready for grant funding. These sustainable, "shovel-ready" projects leverage local funds to meet recreational trail and trail-needs, in an effort to provide low infrastructure economic development opportunities through natural resource tourism.

The Trails Program staff are also available to assist applicants with conceptual projects, in order to meet the technical requirements of an RTP Grant before applying.

Application process

Any agency may submit one application per project prior to the application deadline. Applicants have the option of submitting for a formal review by Trails Program staff to receive feedback on their projects prior to their final submission.

The online Grants Management System (GMS) takes you from application to final payment. The GMS is auditable and integrated with the State of North Carolina's payment system. In order to get access to GMS, your agency must be registered in the North Carolina Accounting System (NCAS).

To start the process, the GMS Access Authorization Form must be submitted to Grants Manager Talivia Brodie. If your organization has never received a payment from the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR), you will also need to complete and submit a Substitute W9 form, along with your GMS Access Authorization form.

Access the GMS system

The final application deadline is February 17, 2023.

It is strongly recommended that applicants carefully review the information in the Guide Booklet before and during completion of the application form and gathering of supplemental materials. Information provided on the application will be used to generate a State Grant Contract, if the project is awarded. If there are specific questions regarding RTP legislation that are not answered in the Guide Booklet, please reference Federal Highway Administration – Recreational Trails Program.

Completed applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on the application deadline date, as outlined above. Applications received after the due date will not be considered for funding. Applications missing any required documents, documents in a non-working state or incomplete documents will not be considered for review or funding.

Questions?

Please contact your Regional Trails Specialist.