The Utah Office of Outdoor Recreation has approved grant funding for outdoor recreation projects with an estimated statewide impact of more than $2.8 million—including grant funds, matching funds and private investment.
“Outdoor recreation plays an important role in Utah’s diverse economy and quality of life,” said Val Hale, executive director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. “As the fastest growing state in the nation, we have the responsibility to plan for our future by creating and maintaining recreation opportunities in our communities.”
The Utah Outdoor Recreation Grant helps Utahns live “life elevated” by investing in trails, campgrounds, bike parks and more. The 2017 awards include more than $435,000 in grant funding for 14 projects statewide. Sixty-five percent of the approved funds will support projects in rural counties.
“Our goal is to ensure all Utah residents can live a healthy, active lifestyle through outdoor recreation,” said Tom Adams, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation. “We work with our local partners to build healthy communities and support the outdoor recreation economy. These projects demonstrate Utah’s commitment to fostering close-to-home recreation opportunities.”
The Outdoor Recreation Grant is expanding. Earlier this year, the Utah State Legislature implemented a new Outdoor Recreation Fund, which will generate up to $5 million each year for the next five years to support the program. Grant funding is expected to increase in 2018.
For a full list of 2017 grant recipients, click here.
