Client Success: Three Communities Secure Major Trail Funding Through North Carolina's Great Trails State Program

August 5, 2025

Ambipar | Witt O’ Brien’s is proud to announce that three of our municipal clients have successfully secured significant funding through North Carolina's Great Trails State Program, receiving a combined total of over $1.13 million for transformative trail projects across the region. 

Governor Josh Stein recently announced nearly $11 million in awards to trail development and restoration projects through the Great Trails State Program, with our clients among the successful recipients: 

City of Archdale was awarded $143,250 for the Hope Valley Road Trail Extension, a project that will connect Archdale’s Creekside Park to residential communities. The completed Hope Valley Road Trail will span 34 miles. 

Town of Butner was awarded $500,000 for the East Lyon Station Greenway Extension, a half-mile extension connecting apartments, commercial properties, restaurants, a grocery store, retail stores, two medical clinics, and two preschools. 

Village of Marvin was awarded $491,925 for the Marvin Loop Greenway Completion Project, which will finalize the remaining one-third of the Greenway, extending 3.7 miles in total and connecting schools, neighborhoods, and parks. 

These awards reflect the quality and strategic approach that our grant writing team brings to each application. Working closely with each community to understand their unique needs and vision, we helped develop compelling proposals that clearly articulated project benefits, demonstrated strong community support, and aligned with the program's objectives of enhancing North Carolina's trail infrastructure. 

The Great Trails State Program, established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2023 with a historic $25 million investment, offers matching grants to local governments, public authorities, regional councils, and nonprofit organizations for various trail types including paved greenways, natural surface trails, biking trails, and equestrian trails.  

The N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation received 89 applications requesting $28 million, with 79 projects ultimately selected for funding. Our team worked closely with each community to develop proposals that aligned with the program's priorities and clearly demonstrated project impact. The success of these three applications underscores the value of professional grant writing support in navigating competitive funding opportunities.  

Our grant professionals continue to work with municipalities, non-profits, and other organizations across North Carolina and beyond to identify funding opportunities and develop successful grant applications that drive community impact. Emily Winburn, Lead Grant Writer, on the Ambipar team, said “These awards represent more than funding – they're investments in community health, economic development, and quality of life. We're honored to have played a role in helping these communities secure the resources needed to bring their trail visions to life." 

Learn More: Read the full announcement from Governor Stein about the Great Trails State Program awards at: https://governor.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2025/07/31/governor-stein-announces-nearly-11-million-great-trails-state-program-projects-piedmont

For more information about grant writing services and how the Center for Grant Excellence can support your organization's funding goals, please visit our Center for Grant Excellence page.

If you need further assistance, please reach out to see how we can help.

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