Yamaha’s OHV Access Initiative Celebrates Five Years and 200 GRANTs

When it comes to the sport of ATV/ UTVing, the state of affairs is only as healthy as the land we’re allowed to access. Fortunately, companies like Yamaha have been working hard for our rights.

Yamaha Motor Corp. USA has announced the fifth anniversary of its OHV Access Initiative in Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation’s Trails (GRANTs). Launched in January, 2008, the program has aggressively funded the ever growing and diverse needs of the OHV community in support of its mission of promoting safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable access to riding areas. A few of the highlights of the past five years include:

· 200 GRANTs and more than $2 million in funding and equipment in pursuit of the program’s mission.

· GRANT-funded projects in 37 of our 50 states. The GRANT tracker map showcases the program’s cross-country appeal and highlights future opportunities for underrepresented areas.

· Yamaha employees have personally embraced the tenets of OHV Access Initiative, putting in more than 1,500 volunteer man-hours planting trees, clearing trails and supporting restoration efforts on company-adopted trails in the San Bernardino National Forest.

· A new web address where you can download our application and submission guidelines and find calendar of deadlines.

“Yamaha is very proud of everything the OHV Access Initiative has accomplished throughout these five years, but the challenges before us remain,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV and SxS marketing manager. “Yamaha will continue to focus on the OHV program’s mission and reach out to riding groups and other appropriate organizations to strengthen opportunities for motorized recreation today and in the future.”

As part of its on-going program, the OHV Access Initiative closed out the 2012 funding cycle awarding more than $76,000 in GRANTs in the fourth quarter bringing the year’s total to $375,000. The following organizations received GRANTs in Q4 2012:

· Johnson County, Tenn.

· Egg Harbor Township Police Athletic League, N.J.

· Great Falls Trail Bike Riders Association, Montana

· Straddleline ORV Park, Ore.

· Thousand Islands Land Trust (TILT), N.Y.

· Western Shasta Resource Conservation District (WSRCD), Calif.

“New Jersey became the latest state with a GRANT-awarded project this quarter, bringing the OHV Access Initiative’s total to 37 states,” Nessl said. “This is a great achievement, but there’s more work to be done.”

Yamaha is actively seeking qualified projects at local, state and federal levels. The current OHV Access Initiative GRANT application form and guidelines are available online here. The next deadline to submit a GRANT application is Saturday, March 30, 2013.