<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)">
<!--[if !mso]><style>v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style><![endif]--><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Calibri Light";
panose-1:2 15 3 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Impact;
panose-1:2 11 8 6 3 9 2 5 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;}
p.MsoCaption, li.MsoCaption, div.MsoCaption
{mso-style-priority:99;
margin-top:0in;
margin-right:0in;
margin-bottom:10.0pt;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:9.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;
color:#44546A;
font-style:italic;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#0563C1;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#954F72;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.msonormal0, li.msonormal0, div.msonormal0
{mso-style-name:msonormal;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
span.EmailStyle19
{mso-style-type:personal;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
span.EmailStyle21
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1029" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->
</head>
<body lang="EN-US" link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72">
<div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<table class="MsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="714" style="width:535.5pt;border-collapse:collapse">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="115" style="width:1.2in;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="83" height="119" style="width:.8645in;height:1.2395in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D6BC2C.60D34610" alt="DEM-logo-small"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td width="599" style="width:449.1pt;padding:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt">
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:#00457A">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Gail Mastrati, 401-255-6144<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Monday, November 16, 2020
</span><a href="mailto:Gail.Mastrati@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Gail.Mastrati@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">DEM ANNOUNCES AVAILABILITY OF $1.6 MILLION TO CREATE AND IMPROVE RECREATIONAL TRAILS ACROSS RHODE ISLAND</span></b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Online pre-application training workshop set for December 2<sup>nd</sup><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter" />
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0" />
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1" />
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth" />
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0" />
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight" />
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0" />
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" />
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t" />
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="A picture containing outdoor, grass, vehicle, sitting Description automatically generated" style='position:absolute;margin-left:473.6pt;margin-top:.75pt;width:4in;height:3in;z-index:251656704;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:right;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
<v:imagedata src="cid:image002.jpg@01D6BC2C.60D34610" o:title="A picture containing outdoor, grass, vehicle, sitting Description automatically generated" />
<w:wrap type="square" anchorx="margin"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="384" height="288" style="width:4.0in;height:3.0in" src="cid:image002.jpg@01D6BC2C.60D34610" align="right" hspace="12" alt="A picture containing outdoor, grass, vehicle, sitting
Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_5"><![endif]><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) along with the RI Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration (FHA) announce the availability
of<span style="letter-spacing:.1pt"> $1.6 million in federal transportation funds for recreational trail projects in Rhode Island. Applications for the grants will be accepted by DEM through January 28.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.1pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">“<span style="letter-spacing:.1pt">There are tremendous economic, health, and environmental benefits to modernizing our recreational facilities and creating greenspace in
our communities," said DEM Director Janet Coit. "Never were our open spaces as popular as in 2020, when state and locally-managed open spaces were at full capacity during much of the summer. Good trail networks connect residents and visitors to the wide array
of natural resources Rhode Island has to offer. By enhancing public enjoyment, a good trail network also helps protect these resources.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoCaption" align="right" style="text-align:right"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:windowtext">Trailhead benches at Cliff Walk, Newport<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Local, state and non-profit agencies and Native American tribes are eligible for the matching grants, which provide 80 percent of the cost up to $100,000, for projects that
promote and enhance trail-based recreation. Grants may be used for the development of new trails, improvement or restoration of existing trails, and development of trailside and trailhead facilities and trail linkages. Projects on trails that are not open
to the general public, as well as research and planning projects and landscaping, are not eligible for grant funding.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="A picture containing outdoor, fence, building, grass Description automatically generated" style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:580.7pt;width:338.25pt;height:227.25pt;z-index:251657728;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
<v:imagedata src="cid:image003.jpg@01D6BC2C.60D34610" o:title="A picture containing outdoor, fence, building, grass Description automatically generated" />
<w:wrap type="square" anchorx="margin"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="451" height="303" style="width:4.6979in;height:3.1562in" src="cid:image007.jpg@01D6BC34.7C507FE0" align="left" hspace="12" alt="A picture containing outdoor, fence, building, grass
Description automatically generated" v:shapes="Picture_x0020_2"><![endif]><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Trail at Granite Mill Park, Burrillville." style='position:absolute;margin-left:-16.5pt;margin-top:-570.8pt;width:323.25pt;height:23.25pt;z-index:251658752;visibility:visible;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:absolute;mso-position-horizontal-relative:text;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
<v:imagedata src="cid:image008.emz@01D6BC34.7C507FE0" o:title="" />
<w:wrap type="square"/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><![if !vml]><img width="431" height="31" style="width:4.4895in;height:.3229in" src="cid:image009.png@01D6BC34.7C507FE0" align="left" hspace="12" alt="Trail at Granite Mill Park, Burrillville." v:shapes="_x0000_s1028"><![endif]><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">The
local trails grants draw upon federal funds made available under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21<sup>st</sup> Century (TEA-21). Under an interagency cooperative agreement, DEM administers the grant program with funds made available by RIDOT and the
Federal Highway Administration. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black;letter-spacing:.1pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk54966261"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">An online pre-application training workshop will be held on Wednesday, December 2, at
</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">1:30 PM. Prospective applicants are encouraged to join the workshop via Zoom Meetings using the following link:
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85899443242?pwd=T0FRZUFFdWErWm5oNnNjK0Rrd1N3dz09__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!fsTRSg3wa2kxm_2YeBdlvDx9ofqpR5s9BvtUK9y48IyDb5aGE783Izki5f2vxHIZynD1W__y$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85899443242?pwd=T0FRZUFFdWErWm5oNnNjK0Rrd1N3dz09</span> [us02web.zoom.us]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Meeting ID: 858 9944 3242. Passcode: 555155.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">Prospective applicants also may call in to hear the workshop: (929) 205-6099, meeting ID: 858 9944 3242.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">The workshop will be recorded and posted on DEM’s website.
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222527;letter-spacing:.1pt">Applicants are encouraged to review the Recreational Trail Grants instructions available online at
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/planning/grants/index.php"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:.1pt">www.dem.ri.gov/programs/planning/grants/index.php</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222527;letter-spacing:.1pt">Electronic applications are encouraged and should be submitted to Gregg Cassidy in DEM’s Division of Planning & Development at
</span><a href="mailto:Gregg.Cassidy@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;letter-spacing:.1pt">Gregg.Cassidy@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222527;letter-spacing:.1pt"> by 3:00 PM on
Thursday, January 28. Proposals and supporting materials also may also be mailed to Mr. Cassidy’s attention at DEM, Division of Planning & Development, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908.
</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">The trails grant awards are expected to be awarded in February 2021.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222527;letter-spacing:.1pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">In 2013, 28 projects across Rhode Island were awarded over $1.5 million in recreational trails grants. Among the funded projects were a trail head at Granite Mill Park in
Burrillville that connects the villages of Pascoag and Harrisville; enhancements to public safety and pedestrian access to Cliff Walk from the eastern end of Narragansett Avenue and installation of new signage, bike racks, and a water fountain; and construction
of the Meehan-Notte trail in North Providence connecting recreational facilities at Governor Notte Park with woodland trails and a beach on the Camp Meehan property.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Rhode Island’s
<span style="color:#222527;letter-spacing:.1pt">outdoor recreation industry is an important part of the state economy, contributing an estimated $3.3 billion annually and supporting 36,000 jobs. As part of a larger network of recreational opportunities in the
state, municipal facilities play an important role in beautifying communities, supporting public health, and promoting a cleaner environment.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222527;letter-spacing:.1pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#222527;letter-spacing:.1pt">DEM’s Green Space programs – which include Recreational Trails, Outdoor Recreation, and Local Open Space grants – fund land conservation, recreational
land acquisition and development, and recreational trail development and improvements statewide. Rhode Island's historic parks, bikeways, and green spaces provide opportunity for public enjoyment – in addition to improving the health of the environment, strengthening
the state's climate resilience, and supporting the economy. According to the Outdoor Industry Association, outdoor recreation in Rhode Island generates $2.4 billion in consumer spending and supports 24,000 local jobs.</span><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:black">. Follow DEM on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) or Facebook at
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!fsTRSg3wa2kxm_2YeBdlvDx9ofqpR5s9BvtUK9y48IyDb5aGE783Izki5f2vxHIZylpZGe3L$" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM</span> [facebook.com]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> for timely updates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">###<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
</div>
</body>
</html>