The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is extending a hand to ATV safety advocates and enthusiasts alike through a recently announced supplemental grant. This opportunity, highlighted by the DNR's announcement today, is available exclusively to holders of the main ATV Safety Enhancement Funding grants. These individuals now have until Saturday to apply for additional financial support aimed at bolstering safety initiatives and mapping efforts for All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) trails across Wisconsin.
Introduced in last year's state budget, the funding initiative was green-lighted by the Wisconsin State Legislature and backed by Governor Evers under 2023 Wisconsin Act 67, with $160,000 allocated for the initial period. The move to quickly supplement the main grant harmonizes with the state's broader vision to seamlessly enforce enhanced safety and improved communication channels for riders. The supplemental grant, thus, seeks to effectively balance funds already awarded and to further boost safety protocols and accessibility on the state's trails.
While the state is occupied with chiseling out its two-year financial road map, the main ATV grant's yearly installment stands at $80,000, drawn from segregated DNR funds that are specifically earmarked for such recreational purposes. Grants from this pool are disbursed with the state's budget cycle in mind, spanning a two-year project period that is subject to legislative ebb and flow.
Eligible projects that hope to secure a portion of the pie within this supplemental grant scheme include, but are not limited to, the procurement of communication systems like radios, alongside the development of maps and software applications. These tools are expected to broadly disseminate vital safety instructions, regulatory mandates, and information pertaining to riding opportunities. Entities interested in main and supplemental grants for future cycles have until May 1 to throw their hat in the ring, as outlined on the ATV Enhancement Funding webpage which details the DNR's program and application methodologies.
