TRAIL-GO Local Trail Management Grant

TRAIL-GO Program Overview

TRAIL-GO, the Local Trail Management Grant Program created in Chapter 2024-58, Laws of Florida, is a grant funding program administered by the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT).

TRAIL-GO provides grants to local governmental entities for the operation and maintenance of trails located within the Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS). Links to the FGTS Land Trails and Paddling Trails are provided below. Local governments may request up to $200,000 in funding per grant application and may submit more than one application during the submission period.

Eligible TRAIL-GO Projects

Trail projects MUST be located within the FGTS to be eligible for grant funding under TRAIL-GO.

A local government may only use TRAIL-GO grant funds for the operation and maintenance of trails, including, but not limited to:

• Purchase of equipment and capital assets.
• Funding of necessary repairs to ensure the safety of trail users.
• Other necessary maintenance, such as pressure washing, bush pruning and clearing debris.
• Local governments may NOT use TRAIL-GO grant funds for the planning, design, or construction of trails.

Examples of eligible TRAIL-GO projects can be found here. 

Grant Application Process

The TRAIL-GO Grant Application Cycle will be held from August 1-31, 2024.

Applicants must submit a complete TRAIL-GO Grant Application through DEP’s Grantee Portal. The Portal will open at 8:00 a.m. EDT on August 1, 2024, and will close at 5:00 p.m. EDT on August 31, 2024. Incomplete applications or applications submitted after 5:00 p.m. will not be considered.

For assistance using DEP’s Grantee Portal, contact Zachariah Robinson, OGT Grant Coordinator, by email at Zachariah.Robinson@FloridaDEP.gov or by phone at 850-245-2052. 

DEP will announce future TRAIL-GO grant application cycles in the Florida Administrative Register prior to each cycle. The application period will last thirty (30) days or for the time period specified in the announcement. 

TRAIL-GO grant funding will be awarded on a first come, first served basis, with priority being given to applications in the below referenced categories:

• A local government that provides cost share for the costs associated with the operation and maintenance of the trails (except for trails within fiscally constrained counties or rural areas of opportunity). 

• Trails within fiscally constrained counties or rural areas of opportunity.

• Trails within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. 

OGT will evaluate each eligible application and determine if it meets the requirements for priority level. Those given priority will be sorted by date and time of receipt and recommended for funding in that order. Those not meeting the priority requirements will be sorted by date and time of receipt and recommended for funding in that order, after the priority projects have been funded.  

Based on this evaluation, OGT will prepare and submit a recommendation to the Director of the Division of Recreation and Parks for funding consideration. Grant awards are contingent upon appropriation by the Florida Legislature. 

Resources

• TRAIL-GO Frequently Asked Questions

• Examples of Eligible Projects

• TRAIL-GO Timeline

• Rural Areas of Opportunity Map

• Florida Greenways and Trails System Land Trails

• Florida Greenways and Trails System Paddling Trails