Department of Dirt Grant Opportunity
Congratulations to winners of the Department of Dirt’s first ever micro-grant!
After reviewing a strong pool of applications from communities across the state, we’re excited to say that we’ve selected five projects that will receive funding to build and improve mountain bike trails in Wisconsin through our inaugural Mountain Bike Trail Microgrant Program. These grants will help bring new riding opportunities to life and strengthen the trail-building momentum in St. Croix Falls, Iola, Washburn, Three Lakes, and Kewaskum.
A huge thank you to everyone who applied. The passion, creativity, and hard work behind every submission made our first round of project selection a success, and it’s clear that Wisconsin’s mountain biking community is full of people ready to build something great.This is just the beginning. Matching support from the Chris Kegel Foundation will allow us to fund more of the submitted projects before the end of the year.
Stay tuned, Bike Fed is continuing to grow this program, and next year’s microgrant opportunity will include even more funding to support mountain bike trails across the state. Start planning your application now. We can’t wait to see what you’re building!
May 27, 2026
A total of $2,000 is available in grant funding to support mountain bike projects across Wisconsin.
These grants are intended to help local communities, clubs, organizations, and volunteers bring impactful trail projects to life, maintain trails, and/or expand access to quality riding opportunities throughout the state. This is part of our commitment to being the leading statewide advocate for mountain biking in Wisconsin, and here’s what you need to know to get started.
We have up to $2,000 available to award, but how those funds are distributed will depend on the applications we receive. For example, if we receive four strong applications, we may choose to award $500 to each applicant. Final awards will be based on both the number of applications submitted and the amount of funding requested.
What can the funding be used for? We’re glad you asked. Funding can be used for shovel-ready trail projects or existing trails. Want to hire a builder to teach kids trail building techniques? Great. Do you need tools and equipment to complete or maintain a trail? Do you need more signage? Those are great reasons to apply! We’re flexible.
If you are improving an existing trail system, building new connections, or investing in volunteer education, we encourage you to apply and get support for innovative projects that create lasting community impact. Please be aware that you will be asked how this project aligns with the mission of the Wisconsin Bike Fed. You can find that here.
The application process opens on May 30 and closes on June 30, with the announcement of winners on July 31st.
Good luck to all the applicants, and we look forward to reading the applications and learning about all the great things happening across the state.
Feature photo:
Rocky Knoll Trail System, Plymouth Wisconsin, photo by Carrie Kost, Sheboygan County Cycling