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Open — Vermont 2027 RTP preliminary grant competition. Required pre-application deadline November 20, 2026, 11:59 p.m.; invited full application deadline January 31, 2027.

Vermont — 2027 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) Grants — Up to $50,000

Vermont 2027 recreational trails grants offer up to $50,000 per applicant with a minimum 20% match. Nonprofits, municipalities and qualifying governmental entities may submit required pre-application materials by November 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

FundingUp to $50,000 per individual applicant; $7,500 is a recommended request minimum, not a guaranteed award. Minimum match is 20% of total project costs. Approximately $500,000 is the statewide FY2027 program pool, not an applicant award. Payments by reimbursement after executed agreement.
Deadline2027 pre-application documents due November 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (official source does not specify time zone). Invited full applications due January 31, 2027.
Last verified2026-10-26
Required next actionRead the Vermont FPR 2027 RTP official program page and the current 2027 RTP Pre-Application Guidance; confirm eligible Vermont public trail project and applicant. Prepare the 2027 RTP pre-application form, workplan, budget, and for construction/maintenance a project map, trail design assessment, and permit navigator results or project review sheet. Budget a minimum 20% match and financing before reimbursement. Email required packet to ANR.FPRRecreationGrants@vermont.gov by November 20, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (time zone unstated); selected applicants later use ANROnline by January 31, 2027.

Broad Eligibility

Vermont municipal governments, nonprofits, state/federal agencies, other governmental entities and tribal governments proposing qualifying public motorized/nonmotorized recreational trail construction, maintenance/restoration, directly related trailside/trailhead amenities, trail land acquisition/easements or trail education. Project aligns with state outdoor recreation plan and state/federal environmental, historic-preservation and permitting obligations. Minimum 20% match and reimbursement financing required.

Atlas Analysis

2026-10-26 official Vermont Forests Parks Recreation 2027 RTP program and current preapplication instructions inspected. A distinct FY2027 applicant-facing federal pass-through grant competition separate from state LWCF and VOREC, not government procurement. Max $50,000 individually, recommended $7,500 minimum; $500,000 is statewide pool. 20% match of total project costs, reimbursement. Official submission November 20 at 11:59 pm; Jan31 invited stage; no time zone stated. Linked 2027 preapplication guide/forms and 2026 full application materials (reference-only). WordPress all-status CPT title and grant identifier searches found no matching VT RTP 2027 record.

2027 Vermont Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant round is open for pre-applications. Vermont’s Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation administers these federal highway-assisted competitive grants for public recreational trails serving Vermont communities. The controlling pre-application deadline is November 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.; the official announcement does not name a time zone. Selected applicants will be invited to submit full applications by January 31, 2027.

Individual funding, matching funds, and payment

The maximum individual RTP grant request is $50,000, with a recommended request minimum of $7,500. Applicants must contribute at least 20% of total eligible project costs as the required match. RTP is reimbursement-based: applicants must be able to finance eligible work after an executed agreement and then request reimbursement with supporting documentation. Approximately $500,000 is anticipated statewide across the 2027 program, and is not the maximum award to one applicant.

Eligible applicants and projects

Eligible applicants include Vermont municipalities, nonprofit organizations, state or federal government agencies, other governmental entities and tribal governments proposing public trail projects in Vermont. The program supports existing trail maintenance and restoration; new public trail construction with restrictions on some federal-land projects; directly related trailside or trailhead amenities, structures, signs and parking; trail corridors and easements; and qualifying educational projects. Both motorized and nonmotorized trail uses are eligible. Projects must address the Vermont Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and be completed during the anticipated July 13, 2027–December 31, 2028 implementation period.

Restrictions and application requirements

Federal and state compliance review may include National Environmental Policy Act requirements, the Endangered Species Act, Section 106 historic-preservation review, floodplain and wetland protections, Buy America requirements, civil-rights protections and state permitting. An award is not guaranteed by pre-application submission. Applicants must prepare the 2027 RTP pre-application form, project workplan and project budget. Construction or maintenance projects must also supply a project map, completed Design Assessment Tool for Trails, and Permit Navigator results or a Project Review Sheet. Read the official 2027 RTP pre-application guidance and its linked templates before applying.

How to apply

Email the completed required pre-application materials to ANR.FPRRecreationGrants@vermont.gov no later than November 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. The funder offers a completeness screening for proposals received by November 18 at 5 p.m.; this is not a replacement for the November 20 deadline. If invited, submit a separate full application through the ANROnline portal by January 31, 2027. The full 2027 application materials will be released later; the site’s 2026 full-application resources are reference only. Current official requirements and links: Vermont RTP 2027 grant announcement and application resources.

Source verificationOfficial government source · fpr.vermont.govAtlas last verified this record 2026-10-26. Always use the funder's current application materials, amendments and portal instructions as the controlling source.View source and application materials ↗