It’s great news for one snowmobile club in southeastern Vermont. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has stepped in to help them purchase equipment to aid them in keeping nearby trails groomed for the many snowmobile enthusiasts in the area.
The club, the Hawks Mountain Ridge Riders, is based in Vermont’s Windsor County. They received a USDA grant of $77,000 to match investment money they have raised to purchase a trail groomer.
The Hawks have $146,295 in investment funds of their own, so the grant makes it possible for them to purchase a 2015 Tucker Model 200E Sno-Cat trail groomer. Snowmobiling is a very popular form of recreation in the state, and the Hawks Mountain Ridge Riders are just one of 128 state snowmobile clubs.
The grant is also good news for employment in the area. It will support eleven permanent jobs, four shorter-term jobs, six small businesses, and creates one new job.
Like other snowmobile clubs nationwide, the Hawks are committed to maintaining the surrounding trails for the use of sportspeople, fundraise for local and national charities, and they introduce families and individuals to their sport, with a special emphasis on teaching safety and respect for nature to all of those who participate in snowmobiling.
