On October 13th, the Kingdom Trail Association’s Mini Grant Selection Committee met to determine grant awards for the annual KTA Mini Grant cycle. In our second year offering this opportunity, we were overwhelmed to receive $70,083.30 in funding requests for the $25,000 dedicated to the program. This is almost double the amount in requests received in the program’s inaugural year. We would like to thank the Mini Grant Selection Committee for their time and energy as they had to make difficult choices among the expansive pool of applicants.
Kingdom Trails awarded grants to 8 local projects. Grant recipients were selected through a competitive application process, scoring projects on such criteria as community need, impact, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, public support, and a realistic, effective work plan and budget.
The Kingdom Trails Board of Directors is excited to announce the following recipients of the 2020 KTA Mini Grant awards:
Town of East Haven Library: Awarded $4,800 to refurbish the playground at the East Haven Community Park to provide a safer and more attractive area for residents and visitors to recreate and gather.
Kingdom East School District: Awarded $4,439 for the All Kids Bike program for Kindergarten and First Grade students of all KESD schools. Funds will purchase 22 Strider bikes, curriculum and training that will enable PE Teachers to facilitate learning opportunities for students to ride a bike without training wheel support.
Vermont Children’s Theater: Awarded $4,055 to update the lighting and electrical wiring in the VCT barn. Funds will increase energy efficiency, provide more effective lighting of the space and ensure safety for youth productions and other community groups who use the barn.
Rural Edge Support & Services at Home (SASH): Awarded $3,546 for Fall Awareness and Prevention. This program will integrate fall prevention education, physical aids to help reduce falls, and the opportunity for physical movement and strengthening. Program participants will acquire yak tracks, cane ice picks, and/or portable sand to use on icy surfaces.
H.O.P.E: Awarded $2,500 for their weekly Backpack Program, providing food to children from 8 area schools, and their families who are facing food insecurity.
Town of Lyndon: Awarded $2,460 to dedicate to the multi-year process of converting the vacant, former Town Highway Garage parcel into a public greenspace with river access and connections to local trail networks (KTA, VAST, etc.). These funds will allow weekly mowing and weed whacking to promote an immediate, welcoming space for relaxation and unobstructed river access for swimming, tubing, paddling, fishing, etc., plus the installation of picnic tables and benches to encourage enjoyment of the greenspace, and signage to educate users on “leave no trace” principles and promote community care of the area and environmental awareness.
NEK Backcountry: Awarded $2,300 to purchase trail tools in order to be more efficient in clearing and
maintaining approved glade skiing areas. NEKBC will also purchase lumber to build bridges over sensitive wet areas and add signs for proper parking areas, educating skiers about NEKBC policies and protecting the environment.
Cobleigh Library: Awarded $900 to purchase books about outdoor recreation and nature diversity as well as snowshoes for community members to check out of both the bookmobile and library, encouraging health and wellness through reading and outdoor movement activities.
Kingdom Trails is thankful to all applicants who submitted proposals and we wish all the best in advancing these valuable local endeavors, improving the quality of life for our community. Above all, Kingdom Trails is grateful to our private landowners who so generously allow our trails to cross their beautiful properties. It is because of them that we may continue contributing to our community and offering this program.
To learn more about the new KTA Mini Grant program and how to apply for next year’s cycle, please visit www.kingdomtrails.org/kta-mini-grant.org
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