TN Department of Environment & Conservation
Recreational Trails Program (RTP)
Key facts
- Deadline
- Next round: about Jan 29 – Apr 1, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder ?
- Award size
- Up to $392K
- Match ?
- Required: you cover 20% of the total project · Work out your budget and match
- How you get paid ?
- By reimbursement: you spend your own money first and get paid back later, often months later. Make sure you can cover the costs until then.
- Who can apply
- City or town government, County government, State government, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3)
- Where
- Anywhere in Tennessee
Your share in dollars
For a $392,000 grant you'd put in about $98,000 of your own money or donated help, for a total project of about $490,000.
Based on the funder's stated 20% applicant share. Some programs lower it for distressed counties or accept donated help.
Before you apply: Tennessee state agencies usually require you to be registered as a supplier in the state's Edison system before they can pay a grant. Ask the program contact, and register early. Get-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee
- Needs a match (see how much in the notice)
- Past Tennessee awards of the federal program behind it (all its uses): 3
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
About this grant
Official notice: https://www.tn.gov/environment/about-tdec/grants/recreation/rtp.html · Printed from grantme.click/grants/ea155e04-820d-42d3-a665-205179f3d079
Apply on the funder's site Add deadline to my calendar
Who in Tennessee has won the federal program behind it
This grant is paid from federal program 20.219, which also pays for other work. These groups won that program, not necessarily this grant.
1 award to Tennessee groups since 2024. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | $1.7M spent that year | 2025 |
Source: Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. In Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation passes it on: watch that agency for applications, not the federal agency. 2 pass-through grants on file. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Dyersburg, Tennessee | Dyersburg | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation | $654K spent that year | 2025 |
| Lincoln County, Tennessee | Fayetteville, Lincoln County | Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation | $165K spent that year | 2025 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
Similar grants open or opening soon
From other funders, about the same kind of work.
- Polaris TRAILS Grants Program · Polaris Inc. · Due about Mar 1, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- America The Beautiful Trail Grant Program (National Forest trails) · America The Beautiful Foundation · Accepts applications through Dec 31, 2027. Rounds may close sooner: check the notice Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Evan Means Grants Program · Tennessee Trails Association · Due about Jan 1, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Climbing Conservation Grant Program · Access Fund · Due about Mar 1, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
More from TN Department of Environment & Conservation
- SWIG Emerging Contaminants in Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) Grant · Next round: about Nov 17, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- SWIG Lead Service Line Inventory (LSLI) Grant · Next round: about Nov 17, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- SWIG Small, Underserved, and Disadvantaged Communities (SUDC) Drinking Water Grant · Next round: about Nov 17, 2026 – Jan 5, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Oak Ridge Reservation Natural Resource Damages Restoration Grants – Cycle 2 · Opens Oct 19, 2026 · due Jan 22, 2027
- Local Parks & Recreation Fund (LPRF) · Next round: about Jan 29 – Apr 1, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Tire Environmental Act Program (TEAP) Grant – 2027 cycle · Opens Jan 15, 2027 · due Apr 15, 2027
About the federal program
Recreational Trails Program
Program number 20.219 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration · Formula grant (amounts set by a formula)