2024 Impact
In 2024, RTA made significant strides in organizational development and trail infrastructure. Grant awards from The Rico Center and Telluride Foundation enabled the creation of RTA's first three-year strategic plan and the development of essential internal tools, including a new database for tracking grant opportunities and a customer relationship management system (Keela) to streamline donations and membership. RTA expanded its leadership by adding three new Board members and hired Sage Advice for strategic guidance, leading to $13,200 in grant funding from Athletic Brewing, San Miguel Power Association, Basin Electric, the Telluride Foundation and the Ballantine Family Fund. Additionally, RTA has multiple other grant applications under review for 2025.
In terms of trail work, RTA continues to work with the USFS on extending the Rio Grande Southern River Trail and finalizing the design of the Dolores River bridge, and improving trail accessibility by rebuilding sections of the Burnett Connector with a $6,500 grant from The Rico Center. Community engagement was robust, with successful events like the annual July 4th Dan Holmes Memorial Fun Run, Winter Fat Bike Bash, an aid station for the inaugural “San Juan Softie” 100-mile race, a membership drive, and more than 100 hours of volunteer trail work on local trails. These efforts have strengthened RTA's capacity and positioned us for additional funding opportunities and continued trail projects and maintenance in 2025.