Cypress, Calif.
- Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A.,
announces the fifth anniversary of its OHV Access Initiative, the industry
leader in Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation's Trails
(GRANTs). Launched in January, 2008, the program has aggressively funded
the ever growing and diverse needs of the OHV community in support of its
mission of promoting safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable access to
riding areas. A few of the highlights of the past five years include:
- 200 GRANTs and more than $2 million in funding and equipment
in pursuit of the program's mission.
- GRANT-funded projects in 37 of our 50 states. The GRANT
tracker map showcases the program's cross-country appeal and
highlights future opportunities for underrepresented areas.
- Yamaha employees have personally embraced the tenets of OHV
Access Initiative, putting in more than 1,500 volunteer man-hours planting
trees, clearing trails and supporting restoration efforts on company-adopted
trails in the San Bernardino
National Forest.
- A new address, www.yamahaohvaccess.com is where you can download an application
and submission guidelines and find the calendar of deadlines.
"Yamaha is very proud of everything the OHV Access
Initiative has accomplished throughout these five years, but the challenges
before us remain," Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV and SxS marketing manager, said.
"Yamaha will continue to focus on the OHV program's mission and reach out to
riding groups and other appropriate organizations to strengthen opportunities
for motorized recreation today and in the future."
As part of its on-going program, the OHV Access Initiative
closed out the 2012 funding cycle awarding more than $76,000 in GRANTs in the
fourth quarter bringing the year's total to $375,000. The following
organizations received GRANTs in Q4 2012:
- Johnson County,
Tenn.
- Egg
Harbor Township
Police Athletic League, N.J.
- Great Falls Trail Bike Riders
Association, Montana
- Straddleline ORV
Park, Ore.
- Thousand
Islands Land
Trust (TILT), N.Y.
- Western Shasta Resource Conservation District (WSRCD), Calif.
"New Jersey
became the latest state with a GRANT-awarded project this quarter, bringing the
OHV Access Initiative's total to 37 states," Nessl said. "This is a great
achievement, but there's more work to be done."
Yamaha is actively seeking qualified projects at local, state
and federal levels. The current OHV Access Initiative GRANT application
form and guidelines are available online at www.yamahaohvaccess.com. The
next deadline to submit a GRANT application is Saturday, March 30, 2013.
Through this program,
Yamaha has directly and indirectly supported thousands of miles of trails,
maintained and rehabilitated countless riding areas, improved staging areas,
built bridges over fish-bearing streams and partnered with local riding
communities across the country to improve the OHV experience. Each quarter,
Yamaha accepts applications from non-profit or tax-exempt organizations
including OHV riding clubs and associations, national, state and local public
land use agencies and other members of the OHV community in the United States.
A committee then reviews each application and awards GRANTs to deserving
projects. Examples of appropriate projects for GRANTs include, but are not
limited to:
- Trail development, restoration and maintenance
- Trail signage and map production
- Staging area construction, renovation and maintenance
- Land stewardship, trail safety and education
