Technical Support Providers
Building new or taking care of existing trails, expanding a trail network, or figuring out how to develop a regional approach to trails takes time, skill, funding, and expertise that can overwhelm even the most committed volunteer or paid trail manager. Thankfully, Vermont has many ‘helper organizations’ with staff, tools, and sometimes funding that can support the planning, mapping, and fundraising needed to implement projects.
Initiated in 2023 through H.145/Act 3, this program provides expanded technical and administrative assistance to municipalities with high need that may be eligible for state or federal funding. Trails, parks, and recreation fit with either community recovery, climate change mitigation/resilience, or other community economic development projects. Service providers that may support eligible towns include Preservation Trust of Vermont (PTV), Stone Environmental (Stone), Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs), Vermont Council on Rural Development (VCRD), Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) REDI program (grant writing assistance), and Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT). Contact the Vermont Council on Rural Development for more information.
State and federal funding opportunities are unprecedentedly high right now, yet many municipalities lack the staff capacity or skill to pursue them. The VLCT offers a list of resource providers and ideas for increasing a municipality’s capacity to identify grant possibilities, write applications, administer grants, and manage projects. While VLCT works in the municipal realm, some of the resource providers will assist nonprofit organizations.
The REDI Program helps rural communities access the funding they need for community and business development. REDI provides grant writing assistance to rural communities and working lands businesses interested in applying for federal funds and other funding sources when applicable. Funds can be used to hire a grant writer, complete a necessary step to make a grant application more competitive (such as developing a trail design), and in some cases to help make a fundraising plan for a project.
RPC’s are Political Subdivisions of the State of Vermont created by their member municipalities (24 VSA §4341). RPCs provide technical assistance to municipalities, and act as a link between municipal affairs and state government. They may be able to support trail efforts with planning, networking, mapping, and grant writing or management support.
VCRD works with communities in many ways, including support with goal-setting and technical assistance to make those goals happen, networking and leadership development, MTAP services, and more.
Provides leadership, support, and sometimes funding, to communities and for working forests in Vermont and New Hampshire.
A vital player in protecting working lands. They work with public and private landowners to conserve land and play a critical role in supporting municipalities and other entities in developing town forests and other projects that support public trails.
The only statewide program dedicated to uniting, strengthening, and advocating for Vermont’s nonprofit sector. We are the go-to resource for nonprofits to connect, learn, and grow. They provide affordable trainings on all aspects of non-profits management, a job board, a site to post board recruitment announcements, networking opportunities, and advocate for policies that support nonprofits.
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