Outdoor Recreation Funding for Planning, Infrastructure & Access
What is the WY Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Trust Fund?
The Outdoor Rec & Tourism Trust Account was finalized in the 2024 legislative session to help governments and nonprofits guide and grow responsible outdoor recreation amenities for their communities.
What Can it Fund?
When up and running, the program will provide grants for the “planning, design, improvement, construction, and maintenance of existing or new outdoor recreational infrastructure” and public access easements. Infrastructure is defined as “the physical facilities and structures that support outdoor recreational activities and experiences for residents and nonresidents, including, but not limited to, parking, staging areas, trails, campgrounds, picnic areas, boat launches, fishing piers, observation decks, wildlife viewing areas, and visitor centers.”
Who Can Apply?
Governmental entities, the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes, and nonprofit organizations are eligible for funding.
What’s the Timeline?
The Trust Fund Board of Directors, recently appointed by Governor Gordon and confirmed by the Senate, is tasked with developing the program’s criteria and direction. The board will meet four times in 2025.
Grants will open in 2026!
Name, County
Jeremiah Rieman (Laramie)
Michael Jones (Fremont/ Sublette/Teton)
Matt Burkhardt (Albany/Carbon)
Mark Lyon (Sweetwater/Uinta/
Lincoln)
Luke Thorkildsen (Sheridan/Johnson)
Wes Allen (Park/Big Horn/Washakie/Hot Springs)
Katie Ford (Campbell/Crook/Western)
Rachel Spear (Natrona)
Shawna Reichert (Platte/Goshen/Niobrara/Converse)
WY Outdoor Recreation & Tourism Trust Fund
Board of Directors
Cowboy State Daily, May 4, 2025
Wyoming’s Booming $2.2 Billion Outdoor Rec Tourism Stressing Some Communities
Pinedale is poised to double in size by 2040, growth that Town Councilman Scott Kosiba believes is due in no small part to the strength of a rapidly growing outdoor recreation economy. Call it a new economic model for boom towns. …READ MORE
WyoFile, March 7, 2024:
Gov. Gordon signs outdoor recreation funding bill into law
Law creates board that will award money from state’s outdoor recreation and tourism trust fund to infrastructure and access projects. The program is intended to give the state more say in the growth and impacts of the burgeoning outdoor industry…READ MORE
Funding Opportunities for Wyoming Outdoor Recreation
WY Recreational Trails Program Grants
The WY Trails program administers a federal grant program for trails: 30% for non-motorized, 30% motorized and 40% for diversified. Application process opens May 2024.
Go to: wyoparks.wyo.gov/index.php/rtp-grant-information-trails
Together Outdoors Inclusive Micro-Grant Program
Together Outdoors, a program of the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable has announced the opening of the application period of its Inclusive Micro-Grant Program. This is a funding opportunity for small and rural grassroots organizations that are key to creating a more inclusive and welcoming outdoor recreation environment.
One-time grants are available in the $5,000 - 10,000 range.
For more information: https://www.togetheroutdoors.com/grantprograms
Stay Tuned for News About Funding through the WY Outdoor Recreation and Tourism Trust!
The Wyoming legislature has created a grant program for governments and nonprofit organizations to help fund the planning, design, improvement, construction and maintenance of existing or new outdoor recreational infrastructure; or acquisition of public access easements necessary to enhance outdoor recreational infrastructure.
Right now, the Trust needs to recruit board members and develop their rules for grants and funding. Check out our special Outdoor Rec Trust page for on-going updates.