The Greenways Foundation, a statewide charitable trust providing leadership and advocacy in the growth and use of Indiana greenways and trails, will be granting $60,000 for the development of trails and citizen trail organizations in Indiana in 2022.

Trails include those for walkers, runners, cyclists and horseback riders as well as water trails for canoeists and kayakers. There is $20,000 in funding still available for the current grant cycle with applications being accepted until Nov. 30. An additional $40,000 will become available in January.

Maximum awards are $10,000 for trail projects and $1,000 to cover startup funds (legal and IRS application fees) for those interested in establishing a nonprofit trail group.

Funds for the grants are raised through the group’s specialty I Support Trails license plate, which can be purchased from the Bureau of Motor Vehicles website. The license plate program is key in helping the group achieve its Indiana Trails Vision of a trail within 15 minutes of every Hoosier.

The special plate is an additional $40, of which $25 goes to the foundation to make these grants. To date, the organization has given away $164,000 in grants to 46 projects totaling more than $12 million.

The Greenways Foundation grant review committee, an all-volunteer board, will review all grant requests and contact applicants as soon as possible if additional information is required to make a determination. Once reviewed by the committee, projects are voted on by the Greenways Foundation board of directors, and applicants are notified immediately of their decision. The process typically takes 60 days.

A grant application, instructions and budget and final report templates can be found online at greenwaysfoundation.org/grants.html. Interested organizations are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as grant applications are reviewed on a first-in, first-out basis.