Funding is crucial for enabling mission-essential trail and recreation site maintenance, as well as conducting archaeological surveys for timber management and recreation projects

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service Region 9-Eastern Region awarded a cooperative agreement totaling $206,311.81 to the Department of Forests Parks & Recreation Vermont on July 6, 2026, under the Good Neighbor Authority program (CFDA 10.691). The award funds mission-essential trail and recreation site maintenance, vegetation management, and archaeological surveys on the Green Mountain National Forest through December 31, 2029. The recipient will deploy skilled recreation, forestry, and archaeology technicians to execute recreation and trail maintenance activities, manage vegetation, and conduct archaeological reviews for recreation, trail, and timber management projects. Work is performed in Vermont. The Good Neighbor Authority permits the Forest Service to enter into cooperative agreements with state agencies to conduct restoration and recreation services across jurisdictional boundaries; projects are negotiated between the Forest Service and the state agency, and generated revenue is reinvested into land management goals. Cooperative agreements under this authority may extend up to ten years and are approved on the basis of negotiated work products and project objectives aligned with regional forest and watershed health priorities.

The partner will contribute by providing skilled recreation, forestry, and/or archaeology technicians to execute recreation and trail maintenance activities, manage vegetation, and conduct archaeological reviews for recreation, trail, and timber management projects on the green mountain national forest.