Applications open for Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative

The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative is dedicated to those who work and play outdoors including, but not limited to, those who rely on off-highway vehicles (OHVs) to ride, camp, hunt or fish.

Supporting the outdoor enthusiast, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative’s mission is to provide practical support for efforts that promote safe, responsible use of OHVs, educate the public on proper recreational land use and wildlife conservation practices, and protect appropriate and sustainable access to public lands.

The following are examples of appropriate projects for a Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative grant:

• Trail development, restoration and/or maintenance (i.e. purchasing materials, hiring contractors, renting equipment, purchasing tools and safety gear).
• Trail signage (i.e., purchasing signs, equipment, installation tools, etc.).
• Stage area renovation/facilities (i.e., renting equipment, purchasing materials, hiring contractors, etc.).
• Protecting environmentally sensitive areas from illegal or inadvertent OHV use (fencing, bridges, hardscape, etc.).
• Adopt-a-Trail (renting equipment, purchasing tools and safety gear, volunteer coordination, etc.).
• Trail mapping/Map production (GPS equipment purchase, production and printing, etc.).
• Safety and Education (educational materials, signage, safety gear, events, etc.).
• Wildlife and habitat maintenance and management.
• Land management projects that increase the diversity of use of land for recreational activities.
• Establishing, increasing and/or maintaining access to land for outdoor recreation (including but not exclusively limited to motorized recreation).

Note: Outdoor Access Initiative grants will not be awarded for the purpose of purchasing Yamaha vehicles and the program is not able to donate vehicles outright.

Criteria

• Yamaha will determine awards at its sole discretion. Amounts awarded will vary depending upon the quality of application, project benefit to the Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) riding, hunting and/or outdoor recreation community, need and competition for funds.
• Yamaha reserves the right to deny any application for any reason.
• Organizations can only receive one Outdoor Access grant per calendar year. However, an applicant may reapply each quarter until a grant is approved and awarded.
• Organizations must be based in the United States and have tax exempt (e.g. 501c3,501c7) or non-profit status. Documentation from the certifying government agency validating tax exempt or non-profit status must be provided.
• All applications must include an endorsement letter from a local Yamaha dealership. This letter should demonstrate the dealer’s familiarity with the applicant as well as the benefits of the project outlined in the application.
• Every grant recipient is required to provide written status reports on the progress of the project funded by the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative every six months until the completion of the project, at which time a full written summary is required.
• While all completed applications will be considered, a lower priority is placed upon funding the following activities and requests:
  • Staff salaries.
  • Heavy equipment such as bulldozers, trail groomers, etc.
  • Facilities without a direct impact on OHV access.
  • Lobbying efforts

For more information, visit Yamaha.