The Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC) and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) are pleased to announce that applications for the 2023-2024 VOREC Community Grant Program have opened!
The program will award up to $6 million to non-profit organizations, businesses and municipalities around the state across four tracks – Implementation, Project Development, Outdoor Equity and Flood Recovery.
- Implementation grants will be available to municipalities and non-profit organizations that have ready-to-go projects that support the outdoor recreation economy in their communities. To apply to this track applicants must have necessary permits, engineering plans or designs secured or are in the process of being secured. Projects should plan to begin in summer 2024. There is no maximum and a $50,000 minimum grant request in this track.
- Project Development grants will be available to municipalities and non-profit organizations who need support in getting from “great idea” to “ready to implement” for projects that support the outdoor recreation economy in their communities. The scoping and planning for these projects should also begin in summer 2024. There is no maximum and a $30,000 minimum grant request in this track.
- Outdoor Equity grants are being offered in partnership with the Vermont Office of Racial Equity, and will be available to municipalities, non-profit organizations and businesses to support opportunities and reduce barriers for people to access outdoor recreation. Grants should focus on supporting BIPOC, LGBTQ+ people, speakers of languages beyond English, people with low incomes, and people with disabilities. Work on these projects should begin in summer 2024. There is no maximum or minimum grant request in this track.
- Flood Recovery grants will be available to municipalities and non-profit organizations to rebuild and make more resilient recreation infrastructure that was damaged by the heavy rains and floods of summer 2023. Successful applicants will be able to receive reimbursement for eligible, flood-related expenses dating back to July 11, 2023. There is no maximum or minimum grant request in this track.
Grants are intended to give communities the resources they need to achieve their vision for a thriving outdoor recreation economy. Multi-faceted, cross-sector projects are encouraged. All projects must relate to at least one of the VOREC Pillars, listed on the VOREC program website. Ultimately, the goal is to fund successful projects that demonstrate the wide array of benefits outdoor recreation has for local communities.
Please visit the VOREC Community Grant Program website to learn more.
The online grant application is available through a link on the website. The open application window will close December 15, 2023 at 11:59 PM.
Please note the many opportunities for application support listed on our webpage, including an informational webinar scheduled for October 17, 1-2 PM and multiple open office hours in October and November.
Please help us get the word out about this opportunity by forwarding this email to folks in your network and/or printing the attached poster and putting it up on bulletin boards in your community!
We look forward to working with all of you to continue to support the outdoor recreation economy throughout the state through this round of VOREC Community Grants.
Sincerely,
Becca Washburn, FPR Director of Lands and Administration and Recreation and VOREC Steering Committee Chair
Jackie Dagger, VOREC Program Manager
Lauren Pyle, FPR Outdoor Recreation Grants Manager
