PRESS RELEASE: Great State Trails Coalition Is Behind Historic $25M in NC Trail Funding
- Susan Dosier
- Jul 27, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 9, 2025
Greensboro, N.C. (July 30, 2025) Visit this link for trail announcements in your area. The final grant awards in the North Carolina Piedmont are expected this week.
WHO: The Great State Trails Coalition is the organization that brought North Carolina the "Year of the Trail" celebration in 2023. It was the largest celebration of trails in U.S. history.
The Coalition is made up of individuals, local agencies and trail supporters who advocate for increased state investment in all types of trails statewide – hiking, paddle, mountain bike, equestrian, and paved trails.
In 2023, the statewide organization of trail advocates also set their sites on securing public funding for trails and lobbied the N.C. General Assembly. The Great Trails State Grant Program legislation passed as part of the 2023 state budget with program rollout starting in 2024. The program began soliciting grant applications.
WHEN: In the last two weeks, the group is seeing its vision become reality:
On July 17, 2025, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and the North Carolina Department of Cultural and Natural Resources announced $11 million in awards for the Great Trails State Program awardees for Western North Carolina.
On July 23, 2025, $2 million in awards for Eastern North Carolina projects were announced.
By week’s end, the Coalition expects the final Piedmont grant announcements. The $25 million in grants will go to 70-plus projects. The grants will fund planning and design, construction and maintenance. Some grants recover trails damaged by Helene. Some will go to counties with little or no trail infrastructure.
Above: Gaston County's Spencer Mountain will receive $500K for trail construction.
WHY: “The whole purpose of the Great Trails State Coalition is to unify elected officials, agencies, non-profits, local governments, business and industry partners. We believe trails are a powerful community investment, and we’re speaking with one voice. Seeing the Great Trails State Program grants announcements culminates years of work—since we began in 2018. It’s a ‘great' day, in the Great Trails State!” – Iona Thomas, Co-Founder, Great Trails State Coalition.
“This historic funding represents the state’s significant investment in the future of trails throughout North Carolina, impacting generations of trail enthusiasts. N.C. State Parks looks forward to our continued partnership with the Great Trails State Coalition, the N.C. General Assembly and all who played a crucial role in the creation of the Great Trails State Program." -Brian Strong, Director, N.C. State Parks
BOOK INTERVIEWS NOW, via Zoom or by phone, in person:
Palmer McIntyre, Executive Director of the Great State Trails Coalition and/or Iona Thomas, co-founder with McIntyre. They can address:
The economic development, health and wellness benefits of grails.
How funded projects include communities that have historically lacked access to safe outdoor infrastructure, and more.
Specific projects related to your area/region.
Learn more: GreatTrailsStateCoalition.org
MEDIA CONTACTS for the Great Trails State Coalition: Susan Dosier at 704-993-7871 (cell) or susan@dkcommunicationsgroup.com.OR, Palmer McIntyre at pmcintyre@piedmontland.org Images available HERE and upon REQUEST
