Utah Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Grant

The Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Grant is administered by the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation as part of the state’s broader effort to support and manage motorized recreation across Utah. The program is funded through revenues generated from OHV registrations, with approximately 3.5 million dollars allocated annually to support projects that enhance access, safety, infrastructure, and sustainability of off-highway vehicle use. The grant program was established following legislative changes that created a structured funding mechanism to reinvest registration fees into the OHV ecosystem, benefiting public lands, recreation users, and local communities. The primary purpose of the grant is to fund projects that improve, expand, and protect OHV recreation opportunities throughout Utah. The program offers multiple funding categories, including trail work, access protection, education, search and rescue, snowmobile projects, tourism promotion, and a separate year-round land acquisition category. Eligible projects may include construction and maintenance of trails, development of trailhead infrastructure, safety education initiatives, acquisition of equipment for rescue operations, marketing campaigns to promote OHV tourism, and the purchase of land or easements to secure long-term access. Projects must demonstrate clear benefits to the OHV community and must be open for public use. Funding amounts vary by category, with most categories offering awards ranging from 1,500 to 350,000 dollars per application, while specialized categories such as search and rescue and snowmobile projects have lower maximums. The land acquisition category allows significantly higher funding levels, ranging from 10,000 to 1,000,000 dollars per application. Applicants requesting amounts above 350,000 dollars in applicable categories must present their proposal to the advisory council. All grants require matching contributions, which may include both cash and in-kind support, with land acquisition projects requiring at least a 10 percent cash match. Higher match contributions may improve scoring during evaluation. Eligible applicants include municipalities, counties, state and federal agencies, and nonprofit OHV organizations incorporated in Utah. Projects must serve the public and directly benefit OHV recreation within the state. Applications are submitted through an online grant portal and must include required documentation such as a budget spreadsheet, letters of support, maps, and other category-specific attachments. Depending on the project type, additional materials such as coordination forms, environmental documentation, or evidence of prior activities may be required. The application process also includes optional early review opportunities and may require coordination with partner agencies for certain categories. Applications are reviewed through a structured evaluation process conducted by program staff and the OHV Advisory Council. Projects are scored based on criteria such as project quality, category alignment, budget clarity, and completeness of application materials. Each application is reviewed by multiple evaluators, and final funding recommendations are made by the council before approval by agency leadership. Successful applicants enter into a contract with the state and are given a 28 month period to complete their projects, during which they must submit semi-annual progress reports and comply with reimbursement and documentation requirements. The grant operates on recurring cycles, typically with two primary application periods each year, including a summer cycle that opens in mid-July and closes at the end of August. The land acquisition category remains open year-round to accommodate time-sensitive property transactions. Applicants should monitor deadlines carefully, as submission windows may shift slightly due to holidays or administrative adjustments. Program staff are available for assistance, and designated contacts include grant administrators and analysts who support applicants throughout the process.

Projects exceeding $350,000 require mandatory presentations; early workshop attendance is encouraged.