The Maine Department of Conservation’s Bureau of Parks and Lands has announced a Nov. 9 deadline for grant applications for construction and maintenance of recreational trails through the federally-funded Recreational Trails Program.

This grant round will provide for the distribution of funds available from the anticipated federal appropriation to the state from the Federal Highway Administration in fiscal year 2007.

About $55,000 is expected to be available to municipalities and nonprofit trail organizations for construction and maintenance projects, while another $40,000 is anticipated to be available for projects that promote trail safety education or environmental education.

Maine has received more than $6 million from the Recreational Trails Program since 1993 and has funded more than 350 trail projects across the state.

The program, administered by the Bureau of Parks and Lands with assistance from the Maine Trails Advisory Committee, can provide 80 percent matching grants to municipalities and nonprofit organizations. Project sponsors may apply for grants of up to $10,000, $30,000 or $100,000 (motorized bridge projects only) in federal funding for construction projects and a maximum of $5,000 for safety education or environmental education projects.

Program funds may be used to maintain existing recreational trails, restore areas damaged by trail use, develop public access trailhead and trailside facilities, provide features that facilitate the access and use of trails by people with disabilities, acquire easements or property for trail corridors, and construct new trails.

For further information and applications for funding, go to http://www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/community/PDF/trailsmanual2007.pdf, write to the Grants and Community Recreation Division of the Bureau of Parks and Lands, 22 State House Station, Augusta, 04333, call 287-4962 or e-mail bud.newell@maine.gov.