Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, has announced that its Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) awarded 500 grants nationwide, in support of public land access. For over 15 years, the Yamaha OAI has taken on challenges faced by public land managers, trying to help ensure lands remain open for motorized and outdoor recreation.
“The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative has become a pivotal solution for land managers and outdoor enthusiasts facing access challenges. This mission is embraced by our company, employees, dealers, and customers,” said Steve Nessl, Yamaha’s Motorsports Group marketing manager. “We celebrate the successes of each grant recipient as they expand access for those who wish to ride, explore, and enjoy the outdoors. This milestone reminds us that much work remains, and we renew our commitment to meet the diverse needs for public land access.”
The OAI grants not only provide funds, but also foster a network of support from local communities and user groups to implement improvements and resolve access issues. While project types vary, Yamaha OAI prioritizes initiatives that:
- Promote safe and responsible OHV riding practices.
- Perform essential maintenance on trails and lands.
- Expand sustainable access to public lands.
In Q1 2024, Yamaha awarded over $173,000 across ten grants to the following organizations:
- Always Choose Adventures (Central City, CO)
- Ashtabula County Metroparks (Ashtabula, OH)
- Black River Valley Four-Wheeler Club (Lewis County, NY)
- Idaho Single Track Alliance (Idaho Falls, ID)
- Limestone Trail Hawks (Limestone, ME)
- Moose Alley Riders ATV Club/Valley Riders SMB Club (Bingham, ME)
- Nevada Outdoor School (Winnemucca, NV)
- Ogemaw Hills Snowmobile Club (Rose City, MI)
- Sky Tavern (Reno, NV)
- Stewards of the Sierra National Forest (North Fork, CA)
Yamaha’s OAI program invites riding clubs, land stewardship associations and public land managers to collaborate with Yamaha dealers to identify and apply for project support. The application deadline for the second quarter of the 2024 funding cycle is June 30, 2024. Submission guidelines, examples, and applications for Yamaha OAI grants are available at YamahaOAI.com.
About the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative
Since 2008, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative has contributed more than $6 million to 475 projects across the country. Yamaha has directly and indirectly supported thousands of miles of motorized recreation trails, maintained and rehabilitated riding and hunting areas, improved staging areas, supplied agricultural organizations with essential OHV safety education, built bridges over fish-bearing streams and partnered with local outdoor enthusiast communities across the country to improve access to public lands. Each quarter, Yamaha accepts applications from nonprofit or tax-exempt organizations including: OHV riding clubs and associations; national, state, and local public land-use agencies; outdoor enthusiast associations; and land conservation groups with an interest in protecting, improving, expanding, and/or maintaining access for safe, responsible, and sustainable public use.
For more information, visit yamahaoai.com.
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