Trail Ambassador program faces county funding uncertainty; working group formed to find alternatives

Jacques, the county liaison, told the Trail Mix Committee that county support for the Trail Ambassador program is uncertain and that the majority of the county commission has indicated they are not interested in continuing the program under county administration.

Jacques said a working group has been formed to explore alternatives so the Trail Ambassador program can continue operating if county funding lapses. The group includes county staff, a county commissioner and representatives from local nonprofit partners that have shown interest, and it will look at potential assets the county could transfer to support the program, possible external funding sources and partner organizations that might serve as a home for the program.

Jacques said some local partners, including CNHA and the Friends of Canyonlands and Arches, have expressed interest in helping the program succeed. He said the county health department has indicated it may be willing to partially host or fund parts of the program and that some grants have been identified for limited functions such as hiking ambassadors.

Jacques said his view is that the Trail Ambassador program may not operate at the same scope without county funding but that the working group is trying to prioritize hiking and visitor-education components for continuity and to identify fundraising needs for other functions if volunteers and partners will support them.

Committee members asked the working group to continue providing updates as fundraising and partner negotiations progress.