MRT, INC. RECEIVES MATCHING GRANT FROM MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION

Jan 9, 2004

Mississippi River Trail Inc. Executive Director Pat Nunnally announced today that the McKnight Foundation of Minneapolis, MN (www.mcknight.org) has awarded Mississippi River Trail, Inc. (MRT) a grant of $90,000, payable over three years. "The current year's grant of $30,000 will provide about 25% of our total budget, with the remainder needing to be raised from other matching sources," Nunnally said. The grant will support development and promotion of the Mississippi River Trail in all 10 Mississippi River states.

The grant will allow MRT Inc. to continue to expand its program in three significant areas:

1. Identify appropriate segments of the MRT that are currently suitable for bicyclists and expand information about those segments on the web at www.mississippirivertrail.org;

2. Build substantial partnerships with local communities. The MRT is and must be connected to the locally-driven projects that communities take pride in. The grant allows MRT Inc. to strengthen its working relationships with those communities.

3. Continue to build partnerships with appropriate state and federal agencies that are involved in recreational development along the Mississippi. Touring cyclists will benefit greatly from knowing the location of state parks, Corps of Engineers campgrounds and similar places. MRT Inc. will focus on adding this kind of information to its web site.

MRT Inc. was established in 1995 by the Lower Mississippi Delta Development Commission to develop and promote a bicycling route along the Mississippi River in the Delta region. Expanded to include all 10 states in 2001, MRT Inc. currently works with partners to coordinate route development and promotion of bicycling along the Mississippi River.

MRT Inc. actively solicits appropriate partnerships with corporate entities, as well as with non-profits and the public sector.