Snowmachine Trail Grants Awarded for 2010

The Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Snowmachine Trail Grant and Grooming Pool awards. The Snowmachine Trail Program is a competitive and reimbursable matching grant. Grants are available for developing and maintaining public Snowmachine trails and related facilities and for safety and educational projects. The Snowmachine Trail Program's Grooming Pool provides funding for trail grooming, marking and signage for Snowmachine trails.

Grant applications were reviewed and evaluated by SnowTRAC, a statewide citizen advisory committee appointed by the Director of the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation to promote safe snowmobiling and development of facilities statewide. These grants are made possible by Snowmachine registration fees paid to the State by Snowmachine owners. Continuation of this grant program is dependent upon an annual appropriation by the Legislature of Snowmachine registration fees.

IRON DOG Snowmachine SAFETY EXPO, submitted by Iron Dog, Inc.
The grantee will host a free public Expo to promote Snowmachine education and safety through presentations, seminars, industry vendors, public safety organizations, and the distribution of educational brochures. The festival will be held indoors at the Dena'ina Convention Center in Anchorage on February 13, 2010 from 11am to 4pm. Iron Dog Inc. was awarded $15,000.

MAT-SU BOROUGH TRAIL MARKING AND SIGNING II, submitted by the Matanuska-Susitna Borough.
The proposed project will fund the purchase of trail markers and signs for multiple use winter trails, primarily used by Snowmachines. Mat-Su borough will distribute the markers and signs to those trail groups and organizations who have signed agreements with the borough under the trail care program. The trail groups will be responsible for the installation and maintenance of the trail markers and signs. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough was awarded $10,557.

Snowmachine HELMET SAFETY INCENTIVE, submitted by the North American Outdoor Institute.
Provide Snowmachine helmets as an incentive for attending safety education training programs that include online courses, live or multi-media presentations, and hands-on field exercises taught by professional, certified avalanche and Snowmachine safety trainers. Each participant that successfully completes assigned tasks and a short quiz to demonstrate their knowledge of the material presented will be eligible to purchase a Snell/DOT approved Snowmachine helmet for approximately $25-$50 ($150 value). Each workshop will be geared appropriately for the audience skill level. The North American Outdoor Institute was awarded $15,000.

Grooming Pool Allocations 2010

MAT-SU AREA was awarded $126,268

CCHUGACH AREA was awarded $6,000

NORTHERN ALASKA was awarded $36,000

KENAI PENINSULA was awarded $45,175

SOUTHEAST was awarded $6,000

WOOD-TIKCHIK STATE PARK was awarded $2,000

*Note: These are approximate funding allocations. Actual funding amounts will be distributed based on weather conditions and snowfall. To view a more detailed list of grooming allocations per area, please see the spreadsheet attached to the meeting minutes at our website.

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