Kingdom Trails announces 5th annual 2023 KT Mini-Grant Program!

The Kingdom Trail Association is excited to announce the launch of the 5th Annual KT Mini-Grant program! The purpose of the KT 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 105 private landowners that we can offer this opportunity to foster the health of our local community. 

Kingdom Trails believes our KT 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 KT 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 2022 awardees’ include the Lyndon Town School for a Ski and Snowboard Project, Adaptive Sports Partners to purchase a bike trailer to transport aMTB bikes, the Cobleigh Library to build a bike storage shed to store a rental e-bike, the Town of Lyndon to purchase the first e-bike for a lending library, the Northeast Kingdom Preschool to build a new playground shelter for their students, the Town of East Haven, VT for a new gazebo project for residents to enjoy, Northwoods Stewardship Center for their wildlife ambassador program, East Burke School for a self-sufficiency workshops project, and the Thaddeus Stevens School for a renovation project on their new property in East Burke!

For the 2023 KT Mini-Grant program, $25,000 will be available. Requests for funds may not exceed $5,000 per project. Applications opened on Wednesday, July 28th, and are due back no later than Thursday, September 28th at 9pm. Submitted applications will only be accepted through email to grants@kingdomtrails.org. Applications will then be read and scored by the KT Mini-Grant Advisory Committee. Funding decisions will be made no later than 2 months following the submission deadline. Grant applications and instructions are available for download on the KT website, https://www.kingdomtrails.org/kta-mini-grant.

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. Previous KT Mini-Grant award recipients are encouraged to apply, but must apply for a new project. 

The KT Mini-Grants will be awarded once a year. 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.