2021 KTA Mini Grant Program
July 8, 2021
Open to applicants.
We are thrilled to announce the 3rd Annual KTA Mini Grant program! The purpose of the KTA Mini Grant program is to provide funding for projects that will advance the mission of Kingdom Trails while expressing our gratitude to the communities that host us. It is because of our 103 private landowners that we can offer this opportunity to foster the health of our local community.
Kingdom Trails believes our KTA Mini Grant program will help highlight and advance valuable local endeavors that promote Recreation, Health & Wellness, Education & Training, Environmental Stewardship, Economic Viability, Heritage & Culture, and Creative Arts.
The KTA Mini Grant program will award funds to projects that benefit the communities of Burke, East Haven, Kirby, and Lyndonville, the towns where Kingdom Trails exists. Funds will further Kingdom Trail’s mission, increase the capabilities and capacity of other local organizations and groups, focus on developing a sustainable economy and improve the quality of life for people in these communities while promoting diversity and inclusion.
Projects of past awardees’ include the Town of East Haven Library to refurbish the East Haven Community Park playground, the Vermont Children’s Theater’s update of lighting and electrical wiring, Rural Edge’s SASH Fall Awareness Program, H.O.P.E’s Backpack program, NEK Backcountry’s purchase of tools, Cobleigh Library’s addition of outdoor recreation and nature diversity books to their collection, and the Town of Lyndon’s effort to revitalize the old town highway garage into a greenspace.
For the 2021 KTA Mini Grant program, $25,000 will be available. Requests for funds may not exceed $5,000 per project. Applications are due via email only, no later than 4PM Friday, September 24, 2021. Applications will then be read and scored by the KTA Mini Grant Committee. Funding decisions will be made no later than 2 months following the submission deadline.
Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)3 organizations, schools, governments or collaboratives. Applicants also may include individuals, teachers, or groups (2 or more) of youth or adults who are working on projects in the community and who need resources to move their projects forward.
The KTA Mini Grants will be awarded once a year. Grant applications are available for download here. If you would like to be on the Kingdom Trail’s grant distribution list, or if you have any questions regarding the process or eligibility of the grant process, please see further details on the website or email grants@kingdomtrails.org.
Dear KT Community, I write to you today as I begin a transition in my relationship with Kingdom Trails. I have made the difficult decision to take the next step in my professional journey and step away from my role as Executive Director. Serving Kingdom Trails and this incredible community over the past eight years has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am deeply proud of the work I’ve led and supported, from navigating immense global challenges and natural disasters, to forging incredible relationships, with our landowners and community. And throughout this journey, the Northeast Kingdom has become not just where I live, but truly my home. It’s the place I chose to become a mother and where my family has put down roots. That said, I am ready to explore new ways to serve this community, ways that will allow me to continue growing as a leader. I’ve accepted the role of Interim Executive Director for the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative, where I will carry forward the work I fell in love with through Kingdom Trails: strengthening our communities and supporting thoughtful economic development. In this new role, I’ll have the opportunity to advocate not only for outdoor recreation, which is so essential to the heart of our region, but also for the many sectors that make the Northeast Kingdom such a unique and vibrant place. Please know I remain deeply committed to Kingdom Trails. This is my home, and it will remain my home. I wish to always be an ambassador for KT, including playing a role in ensuring a graceful, responsible transition with care. The Board of Directors and I have committed to this, to ensure continuity, stability, and the trust you hold in this organization. I am grateful beyond words for the opportunity to have served my community through this role, and I look forward to closing this chapter with the same heart and good intention with which I began it. Georgia Gould is stepping in as interim Executive Director to lead the organization through this transition. Georgia has served on the KT Board of Directors since 2021, leading both the Landowner and Trail Advisory Committees. She is a KT Landowner with an impressive mountain biking and cyclocross resume - including a bronze medal in one of her two Olympic bids on Team USA and five career national championships in cross-country and short track mountain biking. Georgia, her husband Dusty, and their two young children are engaged members of the Burke community and the KT team. Her deep ties to the sport of cycling, dedication to providing great trails for all skill levels, and her love of this community make her the perfect choice to lead KT in its next phase. The Board and I are thrilled that Georgia has agreed to lead KT and feel confident that she will hold the mission of the organization at the center as she has throughout her Board service. You can reach Georgia directly and welcome her to this new role at ED@kingdomtrails.org . With deep gratitude, Abby ### Kingdom Trail Association The mission of the Kingdom Trail Association is to provide recreation and education opportunities by managing, maintaining, and building trails to foster the health of our community, surrounding environment, and regional economy. Kingdom Trails strives to accomplish this mission by offering a 100+ mile network of quality, non-motorized, multi-use trails for all levels of ability, incorporating the best of our local scenery and natural diversity. The Kingdom Trails are made possible through the generosity of 106 private landowners. Northeast Kingdom Collaborativ e The mission of the Northeast Kingdom Collaborative is to improve the quality of life for all residents of the NEK through coordinated economic and community development as the vision is a strong, vibrant Northeast Kingdom where we all thrive. The NEKC brings people together to spark positive change in our communities, creating structures that bring partners together across service areas, sectors, municipal and political boundaries to provide solutions for the renewal of the Kingdom. The NEK Collaborative serves as the backbone organization for the federally designated NEK REAP Zone and community partner for USDA Rural Development.
Cannondale Dirt Party a Success
KT is taking action—on the trails and in the Statehouse!
This 2025 Legislative Session, KT is teaming up with other amazing trail organizations through the Vermont Trails & Greenway Council, to advocate for H.147 a bill to establish the Recreational Trails Compensation Study.
Why does this matter?
Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy generates $2.1B annually, nearly 5% of the state’s GDP, that's 2nd in the nation after Hawaii (Go VT!) KT alone drives $10M in economic impact annually. Therefore, the state must recognize and incentivize these generous private landowners, including the 106 who make KT possible and allow public access to trails.
