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Polaris Grants More Than
$260,000 to ATV Clubs
National, State and Local ATV Clubs &
Organizations to Benefit
MINNEAPOLIS, April 24, 2006 – Polaris
Industries is proud to announce the first round
of ‘T.R.A.I.L.S.’ grant recipients, with grants
totaling $269,267. Polaris issued grants to 34
organizations in 20 states.
The first of its kind in the ATV industry,
the ‘T.R.A.I.L.S.’ grant program was launched in
January for ATV clubs, associations and
grassroots groups. ATV riders and the trails
they use are the lifeblood of the sport and
Polaris aimed to create a program to help. The
T.R.A.I.L.S. program makes funds available to
national, state and local organizations in the
United States to ensure the future of ATV
riding.
T.R.A.I.L.S. stands for:
T = Trail Development
R = Responsible Riding
A = Access
I = Initiatives
L = Lobbying
S = Safety
The grant program encompasses two main
objectives – promoting safe and responsible
riding, and preserving access. Funds can be used
by organizations for trail development and
maintenance projects, safety and education
initiatives, lobbying and other projects to
increase and maintain land access.
“Trail access is our number one challenge in
the industry,” said Bennett Morgan, president
and chief operating officer of Polaris. “As a
manufacturer, we’re taking the lead and
responsibility by doing something about it.”
The grants ranged from $2,000 to the maximum
$10,000 and will be applied toward projects
including safety and education, trail mapping
and marking, OHV park and forest service
enhancement and trail development, youth safety
events and lobbying efforts.
The first T.R.A.I.L.S. grant recipients are
as follows:
Local Organizations
North Alabama Trail Riders Association Cheaha Trail Riders (Alabama) Moto-Trax (Arizona) Thunder Mountain Wheelers ATV Club (Colorado) New England Trail Rider Association
(Connecticut) Harlan County Ridge Runners ATV Club Inc.
(Kentucky) Western Massachusetts ATV Association Topsham Trail Riders ATV/Snowmobile Club (Maine) Drummond Island Off-Road Club (Michigan) Manistee County ATV Association (Michigan) Ranger Snowmobile/ATV Club (Minnesota) City of Shakopee (Minnesota) Blind Lake ATV (Minnesota) Flat Rock Riders Club (Nebraska) Oswego County ATV Club Inc. (New York) Upstate ATV Association Inc. (New York) Snow Shoe Rails to Trails Association
(Pennsylvania) Indian Creek Valley ATV Club Inc. (Pennsylvania) Greater Johnstown/Cambria County Foundation
(Pennsylvania) Cle Elum Ranger District, Wenatchee Ntl. Forest
(Washington) Tri-County Trailblazers ATV Club (Wisconsin) Dusty Trails ATV Club of Oconto County, Inc.
(Wisconsin)
State Organizations
AZ Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition Friends of Florida State Forests, Inc. ATV Association of Minnesota (ATVAM) Nebraska Off Highway Vehicle Association North Carolina Motorcycle Dealers Association Ohio Multi-Use Trails Association Utah/Arizona ATV Club Vermont ATV Sportsman’s Association Inc. Wisconsin ATV Association (WATVA/NOHVIS) National Organizations Blue Ribbon Coalition Tread Lightly! NOHVCC (National Off Highway Vehicle
Conservation Council)
“We’re really pleased with the response from
ATV clubs and organizations in this first
round,” said Morgan. “We received an application
from an ATV club in virtually every state.
That’s phenomenal because together we grow the
sport we love.”
For more information on the ‘T.R.A.I.L.S.’
grant program and an application form, visit the
Polaris Web site at www.polarisindustries.com
and click on “Riders,” then select “Right to
Ride.”
Grant applications are reviewed three times
per year -- in April, August and November, with
corresponding submission deadlines of March 1,
July 1 and October 1. Organizations may apply
for a maximum of two grants per year and all
organizations must have 501c3, 501c7 or
non-profit organization status. Project funding
from other sources is an important criteria in
order to be considered for a T.R.A.I.L.S. grant.
http://www.pi54.com/ATV/PDFs/TRAILSGrantAppForm.pdf
About Polaris
With annual 2005 sales of $1.9 Billion,
Polaris designs, engineers, manufactures and
markets snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles
(ATVs), Victory motorcycles and the Polaris
RANGER for recreational and utility use.
Polaris is a recognized leader in the
snowmobile industry; and one of the largest
manufacturers of ATVs in the world. Victory
motorcycles, established in 1998 and
representing the first all-new American-made
motorcycle from a major company in nearly 60
years, are rapidly making impressive in-roads
into the motorcycle cruiser marketplace. Polaris
also enhances the riding experience with a
complete line of Pure Polaris apparel,
accessories and parts, available at Polaris
dealerships.
Polaris Industries Inc. trades on the New
York Stock Exchange and Pacific Stock Exchange
under the symbol “PII,” and the Company is
included in the S&P Small-Cap 600 stock price
index.
Information about the complete line of
Polaris products, apparel and vehicle
accessories is available from authorized Polaris
dealers or anytime from the Polaris homepage at
http://www.polarisindustries.com.
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