Off-Highway Vehicle Program (OHV)

The Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Grant Program, managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), is a state-level funding initiative aimed at supporting the development, operation, maintenance, and land acquisition for off-highway vehicle parks and trails throughout Illinois. The program also helps in restoring areas that have been degraded due to unauthorized OHV activity. The fund for this grant is sourced from the State Treasurer’s Off-Highway Vehicle Trails Fund, which is primarily supported by revenues from OHV usage stamps. The OHV program exists to enhance recreational opportunities in Illinois, while ensuring that such use is environmentally responsible and accessible to the public. This grant program offers substantial support for eligible applicants, providing up to $500,000 per project. Notably, there is no requirement for local matching funds, making the program particularly attractive to a wide range of applicants, especially those with limited financial resources. The types of projects that are eligible under this program include land acquisition (from willing sellers), trail and scramble area construction and maintenance, restoration of damaged lands, facility security improvements, and the implementation of rider education and safety programs. However, certain expenditures are explicitly ineligible, such as land acquired via eminent domain, and projects located on DNR-managed lands or U.S. Forest Service wilderness areas without proper authorization. The program is open to a diverse group of applicants, including units of local government, private OHV clubs or not-for-profit organizations incorporated in Illinois, business entities, and private individuals. However, non-governmental applicants are required to have a minimum liability insurance coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence for the facilities involved in the project. All applicants must be registered and prequalified via the State of Illinois Grantee Portal by the application deadline to be eligible for consideration. This requirement is enforced under the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA), which standardizes grant administration and oversight in the state. The application process includes submitting the required forms and documentation by 5:00 PM on March 21, 2025. Applicants must also pay a non-refundable application fee, which is calculated as 0.25% of the requested grant amount, with a minimum fee of $100 and a maximum of $300. Applications must be complete and submitted on time; incomplete or late submissions will not be considered. After the submission period closes, awards are typically announced within 180 days. There are no stated pre-application requirements like Letters of Intent or Concept Papers, and the program currently does not impose recurring application cycles. However, the state has a history of issuing this grant in prior years, which may indicate ongoing availability. Questions related to the grant and assistance with the application process can be directed to the IDNR office located at One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702, or by calling 217-782-6302. The grant also features regular Advisory Board meetings to provide transparency and gather stakeholder input on program development and implementation.

Use the correct AmpliFund account and ensure all components are submitted; incomplete applications will be rejected.