The Montana Snowmobile Program, which has been in existence since 1978, currently has no grant scoring criteria.  Discussions with the department's advisory committee were held in the years 1983, 1988, 1993, and 1996, and in each case the consensus was that scoring criteria were not necessary to the program.  The purpose of the snowmobile grant program is to maintain the existing groomed snowmobile trail system, not to expand or initiate new trail systems.  The annual apportionment for grants is based upon legislative budget authority and the history of the costs of grooming in each of the 26 programs across the state.

The snowmobile grant program involves funding for the maintenance of established snowmobile trails.  Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) provides grant money to 22 snowmobile clubs that operate leased, state-owned groomers.  FWP also provides seed money to clubs to construct groomer sheds in which to maintain and protect those groomers.  Finally, FWP provides grant money to five clubs to operate groomers owned by, or under contract to, the clubs.

It is the goal of FWP to periodically review the necessity for scoring criteria in the selection of grants under the Montana Snowmobile Program.  The next year for review of this issue will be 2009.