Off-Highway Vehicle Program Grants

The Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Grant Program, administered by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (FWP), aims to support and improve OHV recreational opportunities throughout the state of Montana. Funded through state gas taxes and revenues from OHV Nonresident Temporary-Use Permits, the program is designed to enhance safety, ethics, and resource stewardship within the OHV trail system. The program is guided by the Off-Highway Vehicle Advisory Committee (OHVAC), a panel composed of diverse stakeholders including representatives from user groups and land management agencies. This committee plays a key role in evaluating applications and recommending projects for funding, ensuring a balanced and impactful distribution of resources across Montana. The program supports a variety of eligible project types including OHV trail development and maintenance, safety and ethics education, trail signage, trail steward positions, and noxious weed eradication along OHV routes. Projects may range from trail reroutes and bridge installations to informational kiosks and outreach materials. Both construction and maintenance efforts are eligible, provided they include the necessary environmental documentation. Projects conducted on public lands require additional approval from the relevant land management agency, while private land projects must demonstrate long-term public access agreements. Eligible applicants include federal, tribal, state, county, and municipal agencies, as well as recreational clubs, NGOs, and associations. For-profit entities are not eligible. All applicants must be registered with the Montana Secretary of State and must be the party that will directly manage and expend the funds. A cost-sharing structure is required, with applicants contributing a minimum 10% of total project costs through either cash or in-kind match, such as volunteer labor, professional services, or donated materials. The application process is hosted through Montana’s WebGrants portal. Only one application may be submitted per cycle per organization. All applicants must submit detailed budget forms and environmental review documentation as part of the application. Trail construction projects require completion of the Environmental Analysis form, while maintenance projects may qualify for a Categorical Exclusion. The use of current templates and adherence to documentation guidelines are essential for application completeness. Applications for the upcoming cycle opened in fall and are due by February 1, 2026. After the application period closes, a technical review is conducted by the Program Manager, followed by OHVAC’s evaluation and scoring. Recommended awards are announced in May, followed by a public comment period and final funding decisions issued in June. Projects are expected to begin in July. Funding for the program averages $150,000 annually, with trail steward projects capped at $20,000 per application. The performance period allows up to three years from the project start date to complete work and submit final reporting. Applicants may contact the Program Manager, Seth McArthur, for guidance throughout the process. Resources including environmental forms, guidelines, and scoring criteria are provided online to assist prospective grantees in developing strong proposals.

Be specific about project scope; use environmental documents from within three years; clearly justify match and budget; contact program manager for eligibility questions