Opportunity Information: Apply for L17AS00219
The BLM-(MT)- Mountain Bike Trail Partnership, Billings Field Office (Funding Opportunity Number L17AS00219) is a discretionary Bureau of Land Management grant opportunity, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior, intended to support continued development of a mountain bike trail system at the Acton Recreation Area in Yellowstone County, Montana, near Billings. It is offered as a cooperative agreement, meaning the BLM expects to be actively involved alongside the selected partner rather than simply providing funds and stepping back. The opportunity was posted on July 21, 2017, with an original closing date of September 18, 2017, and it anticipated making one award with a maximum federal amount (award ceiling) of $25,000.
The project is grounded in ongoing trail-building work that has already made substantial progress. The Billings Field Office has been planning and developing the Acton Recreation Area trail system with the help of volunteers, and at the time of the announcement, more than 15 miles of new trails had already been constructed. The BLM indicated it intended to authorize an additional 15 miles of trail for construction beginning in 2017, effectively doubling the system and moving it closer to a complete, planned network. Because trail systems require not just initial construction but ongoing upkeep, the BLM emphasized that partnership support would be critical both for finishing the buildout and for maintaining the trails in a condition that is safe, durable, and acceptable for sustained public use.
The core objective of the partnership is to bring volunteers, trail advocates, and recreation stakeholders into a coordinated, collaborative effort that creates lasting recreational value for both local residents and visitors using public lands in the Billings area. While trail construction is central, the scope is broader than simply cutting tread. The described work also includes development of key user-support infrastructure such as a trailhead, a picnic area, and signage across the recreation area. These features are important for visitor orientation, safety, stewardship messaging, and overall user experience, especially as trail mileage expands and attracts a wider range of riders.
Another explicit outcome is the creation and strengthening of a dedicated volunteer force to support the trail system over time. In practice, this means building a reliable base of community members and organizations who can help with routine maintenance, address wear and erosion, respond to storm damage, support periodic improvements, and generally sustain the system beyond the initial build phase. This emphasis reflects the reality that well-used mountain bike trails can degrade quickly without regular attention, and that volunteer-driven stewardship is often the most practical way to maintain high-quality trails on public land with limited agency staffing.
The public benefit described is the creation of one of the only mountain bike trail systems in the region capable of offering multi-day riding opportunities and accommodating a range of skill levels. By expanding the mileage and completing supporting facilities, the project aims to provide a more complete destination-style trail network rather than a small set of disconnected loops. The trails are intended to remain open to the public, delivering long-term recreational access and benefits for area users, including improved outdoor opportunities, potential recreation-based visitation, and a stronger local culture of responsible trail use and stewardship.
From an administrative standpoint, the opportunity falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category and is associated with CFDA number 15.225. Eligibility was listed as unrestricted, meaning any type of entity could apply (subject to any additional eligibility clarifications that might appear in the full notice). Overall, the grant is positioned as a targeted, community-partnership investment: modest in funding size, but designed to leverage volunteer labor and local enthusiasm to complete, enhance, and sustain a significant public mountain bike trail system at Acton Recreation Area.Apply for L17AS00219
- The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "BLM-(MT)- Mountain Bike Trail Partnership, Billings Field Office" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.225.
- This funding opportunity was created on Jul 21, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Sep 18, 2017. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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