Minnesota Snowmobile Trails Assistance Program (grants-in-aid)- Maintenance and Grooming Grants

The Minnesota Snowmobile Trails Assistance Program, administered by the Department of Natural Resources, supports the maintenance and grooming of over 21,000 miles of snowmobile trails. Established in 1973, this grants-in-aid program ensures that local governments maintain these trails throughout the year. Funding is primarily allocated for grooming services, helping to keep trails safe and accessible for users. Additionally, this program offers trail improvement grants, fostering better recreational opportunities for snowmobilers.

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—or 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 trail improvement grants for snowmobile trails are also available.
Maintenance and grooming grants-in-aid are awarded to local governments (often county units), referred to as the sponsor, to ensure that GIA snowmobile trails at specific times in the year are prepared and ready for use, adequately groomed, and closed at the end of the season.
Through these grants-in-aid, the DNR effectively purchases the service of well-groomed and maintained snowmobile trails. Disbursement of grant dollars is based upon the completion of the four benchmarks listed further down this page.

Eligibility

Maintenance and grooming grants-in-aid are awarded to local governmentsSnowmobile clubs and sponsors eligible for Grant-in-Aid Grooming and Maintenance grants are eligible for Snowmobile Trail Improvement grantsTrail improvement grants: Total project costs must be at least $10,000 and projects must be matched at 25% of the total project costs. (For example, a $10,000 project would be funded $7,500 and require a $2,500 match.)