CYPRESS, Calif. October 19, 2009 Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A., through its OHV Access Initiative, has provided more than $1 million in critical funding into OHV projects across the country. In less than two years, more than 100 Yamaha GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation's Trails) have been given to local, state and national organizations that are leading efforts to support safe, responsible OHV riding and sustainable, open riding areas.
Programs receiving GRANTs historically incorporate projects that directly impact specific trails, such as trail construction and maintenance, safety patrols, mapping and trail signage, as well as projects that address OHV usage on a broader scale -- like educational and land stewardship campaigns and legislative or legal efforts supporting responsible OHV access to public lands. GRANT funded projects span the country from New York to California, Florida to Oregon. A complete list of GRANT recipients can be found at: www.yamaha-motor.com/ohvaccess.
"Yamaha is leading national and local efforts to promote safe, responsible riding and open, sustainable riding areas, and reaching this $1 million milestone is symbolic of our commitment," said Mike Martinez, Yamaha's general manager of ATV and Side-by-Side Operations. "Together with our GRANT recipients, we recommit to these efforts each time an approved OHV project is funded and completed. Through the OHV Access Initiative, Yamaha will to continue to provide vital resources to the OHV community for many years to come."
In this third quarter funding cycle, eight Yamaha GRANTs (Guaranteeing Responsible Access to our Nation's Trails) were awarded to fund projects that directly impact the access, safety and sustainability of OHV riding areas across the country. GRANT recipients for Q3 2009 include:
- Birdseye Mountain ATV Club, VT
- City of Evarts, KY
- Cle Elum Ranger District, OR
- Dubois County Dirt Riders
- Off Road Riders Association
- Offroad Riders Matter Association
- Oregon Dept. of Forestry
- Western Slope ATV Association
About the Yamaha OHV Access Initiative
Each quarter, Yamaha accepts applications from non-profit or tax-exempt organizations including OHV riding clubs, national forests and associations, and national, state and local government agencies. A committee then reviews each application and awards GRANTs to deserving projects.
Examples of appropriate projects for GRANTs include, but are not limited to:
- Trail development, restoration and maintenance
- Trail signage and map production
- Staging area construction, renovation and maintenance
- Land stewardship, trail safety and education
Updated guidelines, an application form and information on the OHV Access Initiative are available at the newly redesigned web site: www.yamaha-motor.com/ohvaccess .
For specific questions about the OHV Access Initiative, call Yamaha's dedicated OHV Access Initiative Hotline at 1-877-OHV-TRAIL (877-648-8724), email OHVAccess@yamahamotor.com or write to:
Yamaha OHV Access Initiative Review Committee
6555 Katella Avenue
Cypress, CA 90630-5101