Access digital copies of guides and regulations publications from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Issue link: http://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1521208
Governmental Funding Opportunities LOCAL FUNDING To acquire funding from your local community government, your group will probably need to make a proposal to a board. To prepare, garner local support and justification as to why your trail project should be a high priority. Think about the other priority needs of your community. Why should they fund your project over fixing a street or other city/county amenity? Think about the benefits it will provide to your community's quality of life, health, connectivity, etc., that was mentioned in the Proposal section of the guide. Have pictures or diagrams to help paint the picture you want to share. STATE FUNDING Obtaining state funding is a lengthy process that requires working with an agency, their budget process, and/or the Legislature. To have access to general fund dollars you will need a legislator or senator championing your project. If this is your intent, having someone on your team that understands the legislative process is a necessity. FEDERAL FUNDING Federal funding opportunities can be complicated and time consuming; therefore, you must plan for the time involved. It is very important to understand the requirements and processes for the funding you seek so that you don't proceed with something that could disqualify you for the grant. Planning trails on private land can limit federal funding opportunities unless you can show the trail will be reasonably open to the public. Explore your potential funding opportunities early on to set your team up for success. Be sure you understand the timelines of these opportunities as they will often take years to see a completed project, from application. Federal funded grants require matching dollars. Depending on the funding opportunity you can fund your match through donors, fundraising campaigns, volunteer work hours, etc. Many trail projects will need an array of funding sources. Remember most federal funds cannot match other federal funds, so choose wisely based on the specific needs of your trail project. Recreational Trails Program (RTP) dollars funded a majority of the cost of the motorized water trail access on the Missouri River at Mulberry Bend WMA. TIME TO PAUSE It is a good idea to pause and reflect more than once when working through funding. Revisit your list of possible funding to ensure no ideas are missed. Plan consistent communication with funders to keep them involved and invested. 19 FUNDING