Fundraising Resources

Funding for greenways in North Carolina comes from a variety of federal, state, and local sources, including dedicated grant programs administered by the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR),and the NC Department of Transportation (NCDOT), as well as private foundations and land trusts.

State Funding Sources:

• Great Trails State Program: This competitive grant program, administered by the NCDNCR, provides funding for the development, extension, planning, design, and maintenance of various trails, including paved greenways. Eligible applicants include municipalities, counties, regional councils of government, and nonprofit organizations, and a minimum 25% match is required.
• Complete the Trails Program (CTP): This program specifically supports the planning, construction, promotion, and maintenance of the 15 authorized North Carolina State Trails. Funds are primarily distributed to non-profit or local government partners, with a portion reserved for small communities to develop connector trails.
• NCDOT Funding: The North Carolina Department of Transportation funds greenway projects that are part of adopted state, regional, or local transportation plans. NCDOT funding can cover preliminary engineering, right-of-way acquisition, and construction costs, and typically involves a staged process. They also offer a Paved Trails Feasibility Study Program to help communities access future state and federal funding.
• Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF): This fund is another state-level resource that can contribute to park and trail development. Up to $500,000 per grant for parks and trails/greenways and amenities. Requires a 100% match.

Federal Funding Sources:

• Recreational Trails Program (RTP): This is a federal reimbursement grant program administered at the state level by the NCDNCR’s NC Trails Program. It provides funds for the maintenance, repair, and construction of trails, including land acquisition and planning costs, and requires a 25% match from a non-federal source.
• Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program: Administered through NCDOT and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), the TA program is a significant federal source for projects that convert abandoned railroad corridors into trails, as well as for the planning and construction of pedestrian and bicycle facilities.
• RAISE Grants (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity): The U.S. Department of Transportation’s RAISE discretionary grant program has provided significant funding to large-scale greenway projects along the East Coast Greenway route in North Carolina.
• Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grants: This federal program provides grants for outdoor recreation projects, which can include greenways.
•USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS): This agency administers programs that can fund the protection of open space and greenways within sensitive environmental corridors, such as wetlands.

Private and Local Funding Sources
• Local Government Funds: Municipalities and counties can use general funds and General Obligation Bonds, often sourced from property taxes, and may have dedicated “lands legacy” or open space programs to acquire and protect land for greenways.

• Nonprofit Organizations such as Connect Buncombe, Friends of Hominy Creek Greenway, Friends and Neighbors of Swannanoa (FANS), and RiverLink can sometimes often secure funding and partner with local governments to develop greenways.

Connect Buncombe Mini Grants

East Coast Greenway Alliance
Carolina Thread Trail

Other Private Foundation Grants:

Private sources, such as the Duke Endowment, Duke Energy Foundation, PeopleForBikes Community Grant Program, and the Conservation Alliance, offer grants for trail building and conservation efforts.