Dear Groundwork Jacksonville Supporters,
We have been informed that unobligated grants, as part of the Federal Highway Administration Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) Program, have been permanently rescinded. This includes the celebrated $147M grant for our beloved Emerald Trail. While we are extremely disappointed in this decision, Groundwork Jacksonville, the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) remain committed to ensuring this transformative project becomes a reality for our city and region.
 How Will the Project Move Forward?
Work will move forward on segment 3 in Riverside and segment 4, the S-Line Connector, as both projects are partially funded by the Local Option Gas Tax and private donors. We will continue to collaborate with the City and the JTA to secure funding to complete all five trail segments including 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, totaling roughly 15 miles of trail.
The anticipated project completion under this grant was 2031. It is unclear right now if this decision will extend the project’s completion timeline. It really all depends on how quickly we can fill this funding gap.
 How Does Losing This Grant Affect Groundwork Jacksonville and Our Neighborhoods?
Losing this grant significantly impacts Groundwork Jacksonville’s short-term organizational capacity. The NAE grant included more than $3.5M for Groundwork Jacksonville over the next six years for project management and community engagement. Obviously, this is a tremendous gap that the organization will need to fill while continuing to raise funds for ongoing trail maintenance and enhancements including activation and public art. However, we do not anticipate any staffing changes at this time.
 How Can You Help?
Please know that your commitment to Groundwork Jacksonville and the Emerald Trail is more important now than ever. Your support keeps the momentum moving and shows City, State and Federal leaders and legislators that the Emerald Trail is a community imperative.
We will keep you informed as we work to keep the Emerald Trail on track. Thank you for your support of Groundwork Jacksonville and the Emerald Trail!
Sincerely,
Kay Ehas, CEO
