Kennesaw, Ga. – Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, the powersports leader in supporting outdoor recreation, today announced the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative (OAI) awarded more than $130,000 in funds and equipment to 11 grant applicants in the second quarter of 2018.
In the past decade, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative granted more than $3.5 million supporting the program’s mission of guaranteeing responsible access to land for outdoor recreation, staking a clear claim in the powersports industry as the unprecedented leader in supporting those who work and play outdoors.
Projects funded this past quarter support opportunities for a variety of off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts, including those using ATVs, side-by-side (SxS) vehicles, motorcycles and snowmobiles for outdoor recreation enjoyment.
“Now 10 years strong, the Outdoor Access Initiative continues to be a resource for all outdoor enthusiasts in the fight to preserve access,” Steve Nessl, Yamaha ATV/SxS group marketing manager, said. “Whatever you ride, however you hunt, camp or enjoy the outdoors, if there’s no access, there’s no recreation. Which is why inclusive projects—those serving the needs of many different outdoor and motorized recreationists—get our attention.”
The recent applications were particularly diverse and included trail maintenance projects, statewide OHV mapping, education and land stewardship initiatives, and research supporting responsible motorized recreation in wildlife habitat.
As the powersports industry’s leading land access advocate protecting the interests of those who work and play outdoors, OAI supports off-highway vehicle riders, as well as those who rely on land access to camp, hunt, fish, farm, and more. The latest Yamaha OAI grant recipients are:
- Balsam Trail Blazers – Itasca County, MN
- Great Basin Institute – Reno, NV
- Great Lot Sportsman's Club Corp. – Oneida County, NY
- Indian Creek Valley ATV Club - Fayette County, PA
- National FFA
- North Country ATV – North Stratford, NH
- Stay the Trail Education and Stewardship Alliance – Colorado
- Tri-County ATV Recreation & Rescue Association – Heilwood, PA
- Jack H. Berryman Institute, Utah State University
- Vermont Association of Snow Travelers
- Westcore, Inc. – Montrose, CO
Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2018, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative is accepting qualified applications for consideration of support and funding. For more information on the Outdoor Access Initiative, or to submit a grant application, visit www.YamahaOAI.com. Follow Yamaha Outdoors online at Facebook.com/YamahaOutdoors, Twitter.com/YamahaOutdoors, and Instagram.com/YamahaOutdoors. #YamahaOAI #REALizeYourAdventure
About The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative
For more than a decade, the Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative has led the powersports industry in guaranteeing responsible access to our nation’s land for outdoor enthusiasts. Through this program, 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. 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, safety and education
Updated guidelines, an application form and information on the Outdoor Access Initiative are available at www.YamahaOAI.com. For specific questions about the Outdoor Access Initiative, call Yamaha’s dedicated hotline at (877) OHV-TRAIL (877-648-8724), email OHVAccess@Yamaha-Motor.com or write to:
Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative
Yamaha Motor Corp., USA
1270 Chastain Road
Kennesaw, GA 30144
