Minnesota Snowmobile Trails Assistance Program (Grants in Aid)

Program Background: In 1973 the Minnesota Legislature delegated the responsibility of administering a cost-sharing program for the development and maintenance of snowmobile trails to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The goal of this program was the creation and maintenance of locally initiated trails that were financially assisted by the state. This program is popularly known as the grants-in-aid program or simply the GIA program. The DNR has been delegated the responsibility of administering the funds appropriated by the legislature for the GIA program. Minnesota's GIA snowmobile trail system has grown to over 21,000 miles. The Minnesota Snowmobile Trails Assistance Program provides funding mostly for maintenance and grooming, though capital improvement grants for snowmobile trails are also available.

Applications
Deadline: May 15th
Maintenance and Grooming Application Form

Benchmark 1:Trail Completion
Deadline: December 15th
Trail Completion Benchmark Form This form certifies that the trail is open and ready for use.

Benchmark 2: Grooming Certification
Deadline: February 15th
Grooming Certification Benchmark Form This form certifies that the trails have been properly groomed from opening day through January 15th.

Benchmark 3: Grooming Certification
Deadline: April 15th
Grooming Certification Benchmark Form This form certifies that the trails have been properly groomed from January 16th through the end of the season.

Benchmark 4: Trail Closure/Application Submission
Deadline: May 15th
Trail Closure/Application Submission Certification Form This form certifies that the entire trail system covered by the agreement has been satisfactorily groomed and an application for the next year has been submitted.

Other relevant forms:

• Common Trail Sign Order Form Grant organizations are responsible for obtaining signs for the trail they operate.A limited number of signs are available from the DNR. Please use this form to request signs from your local Area Parks and Trails Office.
• Trail Contact Information Form 
• Grooming Log

Capital Improvement Grants

While the majority of grant-in-aid funding is dedicated to maintaining the existing GIA Trails throughout Minnesota, grants-in-aid for capital improvements are also available. These grants are reimbursement based where eligible costs are matched at up to 65 percent. A guideline for project eligibility is that the total cost of the project should be approximately 20 percent or more of the existing maintenance and grooming grant. See the Capital Improvement Manual  for more information.

• Allowable Costs  (updated 04/09)

Applications
Deadline: February 28
Capital Improvement Project Application

Request for Reimbursement
Request for Reimbursement - This form is used when requesting reimbursement for eligible expenses.

Work Log
Work Log - This form is used to document eligible labor, transportation, and equipment expenses.