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NEMBA Grants

Each year New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA) provides financial support through grants to support our partners, community based organizations, and outdoor recreation stewards to support their initiatives. Our NEMBA awarded grants can go to support specific trail projects, programs to support cycling, or creating opportunities for outdoor recreation.

We're proud to support the like minded organizations that share our mission based goals and are building a better experience for all outdoor recreation enthusiasts.

NEMBA Trail Grants

Have a favorite trail that needs some TLC? Want to build a new one? Each year, NEMBA awards between $4000 and $5000 in grants for projects in the states where NEMBA has chapters.

NEMBA grants provide financial support to enable mountain bikers and trail stewardship partners to perform trail projects on public land where mountain biking is allowed. Preference is given to projects that build or improve trails, but all projects will be considered. These grants can be awarded to NEMBA chapters, land managers, and non-profit organizations.

Grant requests can be from $100 to $1500. 

Application Deadlines
March 1, 2026

Application Information
The following are required to be included in your application:

  1. Applicant Name, Organization, Email, Phone, Mailing Address
  2. Project Description: Why is the project beneficial and necessary? What trail problems will be addressed?
  3. Budget. Itemize the materials and costs of your project. Be as specific as possible.
  4. Map of where the project is to take place.
  5. Photos of the project location
  6. A letter of Support from the land manager or management agency supporting and approving of your project.

Applications should be emailed to grants@nemba.org as a PDF.

2025 NEMBA Trail Grant Awardees include:

Piscataquis ME NEMBA
Piscataquis NEMBA won an award of $1250 to purchase trail tools to repair trails, reshape berms, repair erosion and improve safety for all levels of riders on their existing 15 mile trail system as well as the new trails in the pipeline.

White Mountains NH NEMBA
Witte Mountains NEMBA was awarded $1250 to purchase materials to replace a 50’ bridge located on the Electric Loop on the West Side of North Conway.

Purple Valley MA NEMBA
Purple Valley NEMBA won $1250 to partially pay for an independent contractor to construct a .5-mile downhill trail from the top of their Learning Curves trail to the recently constructed Proof of Concept trail.

Quiet Corner CT NEMBA 
Quiet Corner NEMBA was awarded $1250 to help pay for a three-day rental of a Tracked Loader (Bobcat) and 30 yards of ¾’ process material. QC will replace some wooden features with berms and improve others in the popular Pomfret Forest trail system.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Grants

NEMBA is looking to financially support programs that focus on diversity, equity and inclusion in cycling. While programs that feature mountain biking would be ideal, we feel that any program supporting cycling is beneficial to the sport as a whole. These grants can be awarded to NEMBA chapters, land managers, non-profit organizations and initiatives created by local groups within New England.

Grant requests can be from $100 to $1000 and will be awarded twice a year. Groups can submit one grant request per application cycle. 

Application Deadlines
December 31 (Awarded February 15)
July 31 (Awarded September 15)  

Application Information
The following are required to be included in your application:

  1. Applicant Name, Organization, Email, Phone, Mailing Address
  2. Detailed description of your initiative: Why is it beneficial and necessary? What issues will be addressed?
  3. Explanation of exactly what the grant funds would be used for and if there is funding support from other areas as well. 
  4. Letter of Recommendation from current participant, or potential future participant of this initiative, supporting your project.

Applications should be emailed to grants@nemba.org as a PDF.

2022 DEI Grant Awardees included:

Hustle Hive- a Boston-area mountain bike team of women and gender expansive cyclists, used the DEI Grant to bring an educational workshop from the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition (MTPC) titled "The Path to Inclusion: An Understanding of Trans and Nonbinary Identities" to the team.

Richmond Mountain Trails- a Vermont-based 501c3 founded in 2017, they build and maintains multi-use trails in and around Richmond to promote community health and wellness, as well as to provide recreational opportunities. They used the grant to create trails for riders on adaptive bikes. 

Hale Education- located in Westwood, MA, partners with Boston Public Schools (BPS) through the Hale Outdoor Learning Adventures (HOLA) and Intrepid Academy at Hale (IAH). By bridging the nature gap among urban youth and offering access to the kinds of specialized, experiential programming usually reserved for more affluent students, both HOLA and IAH mark Hale's conscious steps towards creating a more equitable world. The grant was used to support their mountain bike programs. 

The Red Shed- is the home of the WRWC Bike Education Programs. The goal of the Red Shed is to grow more Woony River Heroes – making biking accessible to kids and families in neighborhoods along the Woony River Greenwayand beyond. The grant was used for parts and supplies for their bike fleet.

NEMBA Signature Trail Grants

NEMBA's Signature Trail Grant Program provides funding for exceptional trail projects spearheaded and executed by a NEMBA Chapter and is limited to the creation of new trails and trail systems.

Grant requests can be for any amount from $1000 - $10,000. With priority given to applications over $2,500.

Only open to NEMBA chapters, the program's goal is to "get more trails on the ground". Projects should be consistent with NEMBA's Strategic Plan. NEMBA Regional will communicate with chapters on the timeline and application process for Signature Trail Grants.

Part I (Deadline: March 1, 2026) - Email a one paragraph project description to grants@nemba.org. The NEMBA Trail Grants Committee will review your proposal and may invite you to submit a full grant proposal.

Part II (Deadline: TBA ) - Submit a full grant proposal. Winners will be announced by the end of May 2025.

2025 NEMBA Signature Trail Grant Awardees include:

Penobscot Region NEMBA
Penobscot Region NEMBA has been awarded a $10,000 NEMBA Signature Trail Grant to build 2 machine-built flow trails at the very popular Bangor Hill Trail Network. The Green Trail will be beginner friendly with small features. The Blue Trail will be aimed at intermediate riders and will have larger features. The two trails will be sustainable, low maintenance and fun. The two trails will total about 1 mile in length and will be completed in 2025.

Greater Wolfeboro NEMBA
Greater Wolfeboro NEMBA won a $10,000 NEMBA Signature Trail Grant to add a beginner friendly downhill trail to the Abanaki Trail Network in Wolfeboro. It will have gentle grades, smooth surfaces, and easy features that are suitable for newer riders, families and kids. They will also construct trail hubs where riders can rest and congregate where downhill and uphill trails coincide. This work will be completed this year.