North Carolina General Assembly
Approves Historic Investment
for North Carolina Trails in New Budget

September 2023

  • $54.9 million approved for new trails and greenways. (See projects, places below.)
  • The new Great Trails State Program will offer statewide support and grants for trails

The North Carolina General Assembly’s 2023-2025 budget passed last week invests $54.9 million to advance trail and greenway infrastructure in North Carolina. This funding investment comes during the 2023’s North Carolina Year of the Trail celebration, the largest celebration of outdoor recreation in American history. The campaign has reached more than 50 million people through events, earned media outreach, sponsorships, and advertising.

“This historic budget investment brings better physical and mental health, more access to the outdoors for all people and economic development around trail investment. The Year of the Trail campaign has made it clear that everyone can benefit from trails. It’s a win-win proposition. We are deeply grateful to the North Carolina General Assembly and to all of our trail partners and sponsors who have worked so hard to build awareness and enthusiasm for trails across the entire state.”
Palmer McIntyre
Coordinator for the Great Trails State Coalition

The 2023-2025 budget allocation provides critical support for projects offering lasting and impactful benefits to communities of all sizes, particularly rural communities. Trail investment provides safe places for healthy outdoor recreation, boosts tourism and grows the outdoor recreation economy. Trails are the backbone of North Carolina’s $14.6 billion annual outdoor recreation economy, bringing jobs and enhancing quality of life in communities across the state.

 

The Great Trails State Coalition was formed in 2021 to advocate for public trail funding and execute the NC Year of the Trail. The organization is launching the “North Carolina, The Great Trails State” brand.

 

This investment is the largest amount designated for trail land greenway projects in the state’s history. 

The budget creates:  
  • A new non-recurring $25 million trail and greenway funding program called the Great Trails State Program.
  • It adds $5 million to the Complete the Trails Fund supporting authorized North Carolina State Trails. These are trails that cross country lines.
  • It also directs nearly $25 million to specific trail and greenway projects across the state.

NEW: The Great Trails State Program

The Great Trails State Program, funded with $12.5 million each year for two years, will be a competitive grant program for new trail development and extension of existing trails, including paved trails, greenways, and natural surface trails for biking, hiking, walking, equestrian use, and paddling. The fund will be administered by the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR).

Eligible applicants will include municipalities or counties, regional councils of government, other public authorities, and nonprofit organizations. Eligible uses for funds will include planning, design, and related environmental assessment or permitting, land and easement acquisition, trail construction, trail structures (such as bridges), trail amenities (such as trailhead parking, signage, etc.), and maintenance, and can be used as matching funds for federal or other non-state grants.

The fund will require a minimum of a 25% flexible match, including cash, in-kind services, or donation of assets.  Grants awarded will be limited to $500,000 per project.