Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative Doles Out $83K in Grants

For the third quarter of 2020, Yamaha doled out $83,000 in grants to support outdoor recreation through its Outdoor Access Initiative. The 10-year-old program provides quarterly grants to nonprofits working to improve and preserve access to public land. And, though Yamaha's initiative includes improving and preserving access for UTVs, OAI doesn't just focus on motorized vehicle access, according to a press release.

According to Yamaha, the program has ponied up more than $4.5 million over the last decade to support hunting, fishing, biking, hiking, and camping in addition to access for UTVs, dirt bikes, and quads. That money, Yamaha says, has contributed to more than 380 projects over that time. This year, the program has so far given out $250,000.

The third-quarter funds went to Joshua Tree National Park in California, Lawron Trail Riders in Minnesota, Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife in Utah, and Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation in Virginia. Joshua Tree aims to use the money for education and shaded staging areas for OHV trails, and Lawron Trail Riders will use their share to build OHV and snowmobile bridges.

The OAI program accepts applications from tax-exempt and nonprofit organizations quarterly. Applications are committee-reviewed, and doled out to organizations looking to do trail building, trail maintenance, mapping, signage, land stewardship, education, and maintenance, among other things.

If your trail club or nonprofit needs funds for a new or ongoing project, the fourth quarter application deadline is December 15. There's more on the program guidelines, an application form and news about the initiative at yamahaoai.com.