LIB Newsletter, Winter 2015

When it comes to building trails, grants are available but almost all require the local community to contribute a percentage of the cost. While the large majority of grant-winning towns do pay this “local match,” others find it too daunting to come up with their share – which could be 20-50% of the project cost.

Finding local funding for a trail can seem arduous, but it is by no means impossible. Trail Recreation Effingham County (TREC) may be Illinois’ epitome for a private group securing trail funding. Over an eight-year period, TREC has raised $1 million in the small town of Effingham. Those funds are the local match for many million more in federal and state grants. The result – miles of wonderful trails being built west from town. The trail building would not have occurred if Effingham had to come up with that 20%.

Frank Brummer, president of both TREC and LIB, has one tip that he says “has made all the difference.” He says to “do all of your business in person. Take time to build relationships and do your asks in person.” An organization may be able to contact more potential funders by phone, mail or email. However, it is not the quantity of requests that is important. It is the amount of funding and donations received that matters, he says. “I am lazy. I do not want to do a lot of work with a lot of people,” Brummer jokes.

Brummer further suggests finding out the potential donor’s interests. “It is not hard to find something in common,” he said. “Find that common ground.” Creating connections and relationships with community members and potential donors makes it easier to garner both their financial and civic support.

Having a relationship and connection with the person makes him or her more likely to donate. There is an additional benefit to making the requests in person, according to Brummer. “It is hard for them to tell you no in person,” he says. “It is easy for them to tell you no over the phone.”

Building relationships also led to donations of private land easements needed for the trail. Brummer believes obtaining these easements is more difficult than raising the local match. “Almost all of our trails in Effingham County are built on private land and, so far, they have all been donated. It is a reach but it is doable,” Brummer said. “But, it is not doable over the cell phone. It is not doable over the computer. It is only doable when you are sitting across the table from them. I can promise you that.”

In addition to relationship-building with major financial and easement donors, TREC’s success has resulted from a long series of events and efforts making the trail system a project embraced by the whole community. A large number of residents in the town of 12,500 have participated in some way.

Brummer,  as LIB board president, shares his knowledge with other Illinois towns and presented at the 2014 Illinois Bike Summit. He is available ([email protected]) to discuss further details and advise interested advocates in other towns. Learn more about TREC at www.trectrails.com.