Illinois and Indiana Groups Awards RTC and Coca-Cola Grants:

At the Chicago Bike Show on April 14, 2006, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Midwest Regional Director Rhonda Border-Boose presented checks to Illinois Trails Conservancy and Indiana National Road Heritage Trail (NRHT). "We are very honored to have the NRHT initiative recognized in this way," says Greg Midgley of the National Road Heritage Trail, Inc. "With this grant, NRHT plans to expand its outreach to communities and counties along the proposed 150-mile, multi-use trail route and will pursue upgrades to its organizational status so that it can more effectively serve other organizations that desire to develop parts of the trail."

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Coca-Cola North America joined forces to award the $5,000 grants. The criteria for selection included both need and merit with selected organizations demonstrating significant, on-the-ground presence and project work related to the development of trails and greenways.

"Creating green places for recreation and exercise requires the support of not only local organizations, but also committed corporate citizens, like Coca-Cola," says Keith Laughlin, president of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. "The long-term benefits of this partnership will be innumerable and span generations."