Motorized Stewardship Grants (Snowmobile grants)

Motorized Stewardship Grants (Snowmobile grants) is sponsored by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). This program provides funding for counties and tribes to acquire, insure, develop, and maintain a statewide system of well-signed and well-groomed snowmobile trails for public use and enjoyment.

Motorized Stewardship Grants | | Wisconsin DNR Aid_Content Page_Motorized Stewardship Grants Motorized Stewardship Grants The 2013-15 Biennial Budget included a provision directing the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to distribute Stewardship Program funds as all-terrain vehicle (ATV), utility terrain vehicle (UTV) and snowmobile grants. --> The Motorized Stewardship Grant Program is closed to new applicants on July 1, 2021.

ATV/UTV grants are available to counties, towns, cities, villages and tribes to apply for funds to acquire, insure, develop and maintain ATV/UTV trails, areas and routes. Snowmobile trail grants are available to counties and tribes to apply for funding to provide a statewide system of well-signed and well-groomed snowmobile trails for public use and enjoyment. Stewardship funds require 20% local match.

That means no state or federal grant funds are eligible for a match. Force account (county, city, town or village) labor, equipment and materials are eligible as a match, as well as volunteer labor and club donations. Counties, towns, cities, villages and tribes can apply for these grants.

Counties and tribes are the only eligible sponsors for snowmobile projects.

Eligible projects (by priority rank) Major bridge reconstruction/rehabilitation Rehabilitation of funded trails - For the benefit of motorized recreational use Development - New bridges on existing funded trails Acquisition of land in fee/Support facilities If you plan to request a grant for fee simple land acquisition, contact the grant manager for special instructions.

Maintenance on existing approved trails Development of new trails (maintenance is ineligible under Motorized Stewardship) Any project on a shared trail that does not primarily benefit motorized recreational use. Applications are due to your Community Service Specialist in the regional offices by April 15 annually. They may be delivered or postmarked by that date.

Minimum useful life requirement Because Stewardship funds are financed exclusively from proceeds of the sale of tax-free bonds, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service watches the use of these revenues closely. Inappropriate use of bond revenue could harm the State of Wisconsin’s bond rating. In addition, a group called the Bond Counsel advises all Wisconsin state agencies about the appropriate use of bond revenue.

The Bond Counsel has opined that bond revenue shall primarily be used for recreational or conservation practices with "useful life" of at least five years.

Specific useful life requirements: 5 years - trail rehabilitation 20 years - capital improvements (support facilities such as: warming house, restrooms, trailhead, etc.) Perpetual - land acquisition So that Motorized Stewardship funds abide by Bond Counsel guidance, written agreements that allow the placement of ATV/Snowmobile trails on private land for a minimum of 5 years duration must be obtained.

We realize that these written agreements have not been required for Snowmobile trails grants in the past; however, this is the first time that Stewardship Program funds may be used on ATV and Snowmobile grant projects. These agreements are due within 30 days of the grant offer date. Traditional 100% match snowmobile, ATV/UTV awards will be made before Motorized Stewardship funding is considered.

The department will follow the existing administrative rules s. NR 50 and ch. NR 64, Wis.

Adm. Code which apply to the new Motorized Stewardship grants. This funding requires sponsors to be responsible for a 20% match.

Force account (county, city, town or village) labor, equipment, materials and donations of labor, equipment or materials are eligible as match. If you plan to request a grant for fee simple land acquisition, contact the grant manager for special instructions. Motorized Stewardship Application Applications may combine more than one source of funds.

They may be submitted for consideration of both traditional ATV or Snowmobile funding AND Motorized Stewardship funding. However, in order for your application to be considered for traditional (100% match) funding first, separate applications must be submitted for each funding source. Use the standard outdoor Motorized Recreation Trail Aids Application (form 8700-159) to apply for these funds.

Note: If you plan to request a grant for fee simple land acquisition, contact the grant manager for special instructions.

Outdoor Motorized Recreation Trail Aids Application (Form 8700-159) - Updated Recreation Grant Project Cost Estimate Worksheet (Form 8700-014) Attachment to ATV Grant Application Sample Resolution for Motorized Recreation Aids Outdoor Motorized Recreation Trail Aids Application (Form 8700-159) Guidelines for Snowmobile Trail Program (CA-002) Bridge Guidelines (CF-005) Bridge Ranking Worksheet - Must be submitted with bridge rehabilitation applications.

Recreation Grant Project Cost Estimate Worksheet (Form 8700-014) Sample Resolution for Motorized Recreation Aids Procurement Guide for Local Governments Receiving DNR Grants Grant Payment Request & Worksheet (Form 8700-001) Note: Do not use the "Amount Donated" column on the worksheet. Reimbursement will be 80% of total project cost, but will not exceed the grant amount.

Minimum useful life - written agreement requirements The agreement must contain language specifying the length of the agreement (in years). Written agreements are not needed if the landowner is the Federal government, State government, or county government. Written agreements must be submitted to the DNR along with the signed grant agreement.

The agreement must contain language specifying the length of the agreement (in years) An agreement is not needed if the landowner is the Federal government, State government or county government Agreements must be submitted to the DNR along with the signed grant agreement 5 years - trail rehabilitation 20 years - capital improvements (warming house, restrooms, etc.) Perpetual - land acquisition If you plan to request a grant for fee simple land acquisition, contact the grant manager for special instructions.

Sample Written Agreement [DOC] Accessibility Guidance for Grant Funded Projects (CF-031) Grant related statutes and administrative codes For questions about Snowmobile and ATV/UTV Trail Aids, contact: Jillian Steffes , grant manager Department of Natural Resources Regional Community Services Specialists: Your regional DNR grant project manager Brown, Calumet, Door, Fond du Lac, Green Lake, Kenosha, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Oconto, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Racine, Shawano, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago counties Columbia, Dane, Dodge, Grant, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Lafayette, Richland, Rock and Sauk counties Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Taylor and Vilas counties Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, Rusk, Sawyer and Washburn counties Adams, Buffalo, Chippewa, Clark, Crawford, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, Marathon, Monroe, Pepin, Pierce, Portage, St.

Croix, Trempealeau, Vernon and Wood counties