Grants For Starting a Campground: Outdoor Entrepreneurship

In Post-COVID World, almost 7.2 million households in America had camped for the first time. Half of leisure travelers consider camping the safest kind of trip; with a growing industry of US $43.89 billion, seeking grants for starting a campground business would be worthwhile.

Over the years, there has been an increasing trend of people seeking outdoor activities and adventures. Several organization offers grants for starting a campground business due to the rising demand of Americans, especially after the lockdown.

Grants For Starting a Campground

From the 46 million Americans before the pandemic, there is a significant upsurge of 92 million American households being identified as campers post-covid. Looking at these numbers, everybody would like to apply for grants to start a campground business and become a successful entrepreneur.

With the growing popularity of outdoor activities, the campground business offers various services centered around camps, tents, recreational vehicles (RVs), or other accommodations for outside travelers.

In the United States, the Grants For Starting a Campground is available from federal, non-federal, and community or non-profit-based organizations. The following list of grants and programs might help you create access to new business opportunities in the camping industry.

This is an exciting venture with trending demands that provide the space or often the amenities for the people to camp with customized options such as tents, RVs, and other services. The revenue model based on this business has campsite rental as the primary source of income; the different streams that can be extended in the benefits are as follows.

• Equipment rentals (e.g., bicycles, kayaks)
• Selling supplies, food, and camping gear
• Organizing guided tours or activities
• Hosting events or workshops
• Offering premium services like guided tours, horseback riding, or fishing expeditions.

See More: 14 Federal Grants For Real Estate

Government Grants For RV Parks

Recreational vehicles (RVs) often require parks due to their size and shape. The regular parking lots do not accommodate the size of the RVs. Moreover, this vehicle requires hookups to the utilities such as electricity, water, and sewer arrangments.

Below Listed government grants are transforming RV parks, making outdoor adventures more accessible and enjoyable for all.

Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)

• This Government Grants For RV Parks program supports over 40,000 projects under the protection of areas.
• The royalties paid by the energy and oil and gas reserve companies become the primary funding source; almost $900 million gets allocated per year in the funds that promote the grants for campgrounds.

Rural Business Development Grants (RBDG)

• It is managed by the US Department of Agriculture and its Rural Development Agencies. The funds supplied by RBDG can be utilized for the campgrounds. However, it doesn’t have a program designed specifically for the camping industry.
• You must demonstrate this establishment’s economic development and job creation to be eligible for Government Grants For RV Parks.

Recreational Trails Program (RTP)

• This is not a specific program for camp purposes and provides the funds for recreational trials or associated trail facilities. However, it can consider the adjacent campground supporting the trail infrastructure.
• The funds provided under the RTP grants for campgrounds will cover up to 80% of the total project cost, and the remaining 20% will be paid by state, local, or private sources.

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program

• Falling under the USDA, this program offers essential public services and facilities, including camping across America, and provides Government Grants For RV Parks.
• Up to 75% of the project cost is covered under their funding grants for campgrounds or other construction or improvement facilities that ensure public safety and healthcare facilities.

Economic Development & Tourism Grants

• Campgrounds invite tourism and can become the significant economic driver for that particular area of the camping establishment. You can seek tourism funding and business ventures that aim for economic development with the help of RV grants.
• The campgrounds also have the sustainability and environmental impacts that result in such grant initiatives for the different organizations. Initiated grant RV park can be utilized more effectively when integrating other recreational services.

Hookups are generally the ways to connect to the electricity, water supply, and sewage exhaust engaged with the RVs. However, this kind of vehicle often faces the scarcity of dump stations demanding the proper infrastructure and grants for starting a campground and RV Parks.

USDA Campground Loan: Camping Statistics

You can get a USDA Campground loan to manage the business expenses. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) often provides loans at reduced interest rates to promote the social inclusion of more start-ups and business venture initiatives that can contribute to economic development.

See More: Apply For Texas Small Business Grants

Under the USDA, the Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program provides direct loans for infrastructure development, including camping sites in locations where the population is less than 20,000 and considered rural and small towns.

Because of the numbers obtained from several authentic resources, you must emphasize getting grants for starting a campground business that benefits you. The camping industry revenue is expected to grow with an annual growth rate of 9.12%.

One in every five adults in the United Kingdom has been caravanning or camping post-covid, and almost 1 million families in Canada got into camping.

You can bring nature to business through outdoor entrepreneurship with the proper funding.

According to the North American Camping Report 2020, the camping industry has witnessed exponential growth in the past few years, with more and more Americans getting into campgrounds, which suggests excellent business potential.

Remember, the most significant part of camping is the maintenance and upkeeping of the campground with regular cleaning and ensuring the safety the hygiene of the definite infrastructure, and that requires funding for the effective management of the existing business sources.

See More: Government Grants for Solar Panels

How To Start A Campground Business Using Grants for Campgrounds?

To launch a successful campground business, you must require the proper research and planning with a business strategy. You also have to obtain a business permit and licensure in the location where you want to settle your establishment.

You can strategically choose the location for the business according to that area’s demand and supply ratio. You can conduct market research or get a conclusive analysis to gauge your stand against competitors.

After you decide on the location, the following class must be considered. The correct market strategy would also include the financial aspects or take a help of government grants for rv parks. Operational planning should also mark a valuable source to pave the way for a successful business.

• Accessibility to the chosen location must be ensured, with the significant road reaching the site area. Also, ensure the site is not too remote unless there is an exceptional selling of the services in that area.
• Consider the natural beauty around the site of your campgrounds, which offers natural attractions, scenic views, and water bodies. People can celebrate their moments around nature, which often becomes a memorial experience.
• The land acquisition and zoning of the definite site should be aligned with the laws and regulations of the said area or city, although if you have gained the grants for starting a campground, that means the rules have already been imposed.

Whenever you get grants for campgrounds, there will always be infrastructure and development concerns that might take all your funds and become insufficient for further service extensions. You can save your money with effective strategies considering the following essential services.

• You must consider basic amenities such as restrooms, showers, toilets, and potable water in your campground facilities, with proper electricity supply and dump water spots.
• Within your campground, there should be a designated area for Recreational Vehicles (RVs), camps, tents, and cabin extensions or glamping tents that can enhance the effectiveness of the services.
• Playgrounds and fishing pots can also enhance the quality of your services, and the hiking trails cover the recreational facilities in the community gathering areas.
• You must prioritize the safety aspect within your campground and set the first aid kits, emergency exit ways, and other fire services.

Federal funds covered by national organizations are often limited to expenses that can be utilized only for essential services. However, you can apply for USDA campground loans if you need to add more funds.

See More: Get Today Grants For Sober Living Homes

Conclusion

This article comprehensively covers the different grants for starting a campground and how to create a campground business. You can learn more about the camping statistics of the last few years, along with the government grants for RV parks, paving the way for entrepreneurs in camps and recreational vehicles.

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