Yamaha
OHV Access Initiative Awards More Than $190,000
in First Quarter 2008
GRANTs Approved for 19 Projects Supporting Responsible,
Open Access
Across the Country
Cypress, CA (4/11/2008) -
Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. is proud to announce
the first GRANT awards, totaling more than $190,000,
from its OHV Access Initiative designed to support
safe, responsible riding and sustainable, open
riding areas. GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible
Access to our Nation’s Trails) were given
to 19 organizations across the country to fund
projects including OHV trail and park development,
trail mapping, safety and land stewardship programs
and lobbying efforts to increase OHV access
on public land.
Yamaha’s OHV Access Initiative was launched
in January 2008 as a proactive, grassroots program
enabling Yamaha dealers and customers to fund
deserving projects in support of responsible,
open access. Today’s announcement reflects
the Initiative’s activity for the first
submission period; more than 35 applications
were submitted by the February 29 deadline.
“We are pleased at the enthusiastic response
to the OHV Access Initiative in just the first
few months,” said Mike Martinez, Yamaha’s
general manager of ATV and Side-by-Side (SxS)
Operations. “It is truly gratifying to
see the amount of work that is being taken on
by OHV enthusiasts and public land managers
across the nation in support of this important
issue.”
The Yamaha OHV Access Initiative review committee
will award GRANTs in amounts ranging from $1,000
– $35,000 to the following organizations:
- Advocates for Access
- ATV Association of Minnesota
- Colorado OHV Coalition
- Coos County Sheriff's Office
- Economic Development Alliance for Oscoda County
- El Paso County Parks and Leisure Services
- Friends of Florida State Forests
- Grapevine/Chavies Volunteer Fire & Rescue
Dept.
- Great Falls Trail Bike Riders Association
- Idaho ATV Association
- Jefferson County Soil & Waiver Conservation
District
- Morrow County Public Works/OHV Park
- Motorcycle Riders Association
- North Folk John Day Ranger District/Umatilla
National Forest
- Thunder Mountain Wheelers
- Tri County ATV Recreation & Rescue Association
- Tri County Trail Riders
- United Desert Gateway
- McClellan Creek OHV Trail/Black Kettle National
Grassland
“GRANT requests came from all types of
organizations large and small including riding
clubs, National Forests, even a volunteer fire
department,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s
ATV/SxS marketing manager. “We look forward
to our work with these and future OHV Access Initiative
GRANT awardees to help establish and maintain
open riding areas.”
As a requirement of funding, GRANT recipients
will provide project status and completion reports
to help ensure each project is successful. The
Yamaha OHV Access Initiative will see projects
to fruition and help each GRANT recipient communicate
their successes through the program’s new
web site and more.
Detailed information on the OHV Access Initiative,
including downloadable guidelines and application
forms, is available at: www.yamaha-motor.com/ohvaccess.
For questions regarding the OHV Access Initiative,
groups can call Yamaha’s dedicated OHV Access
Initiative number at 1-877-OHV-TRAIL (877-648-8724),
email OHVAccess@yamaha-motor.com or write to:
Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Review Committee,
6555 Katella Avenue, Cypress, CA 90630-5101.
Each quarter, Yamaha will accept applications
from organizations such as non-profit or tax-exempt
OHV riding clubs, national forests and associations
and national, state and local government agencies.
A committee then reviews each application and
awards GRANTs to deserving projects. Applications
for the second quarter will be accepted through
May 31, 2008.
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
- Safety and education
|