$25K awarded to Corps of Engineers and local partner organization

 Savannah, Georgia – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Hartwell Lake Office and International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA)/Southern Off Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) recently received the 2010 Challenge Partnership Handshake Award, under a Corps program that provides a source of seed money for worthwhile projects. The Hartwell Project received a $25,000 grant to install a multi-purpose trail in the Paynes Creek Campground area that will enhance mountain biking and recreational activities on the upper portion of Hartwell Lake and increase opportunities for bank fishing, hiking, and bird watching.

Construction is set to begin in the near future. It will not impact regular use of the Paynes Creek Campground Area.  

Under the program, the Corps of Engineers partners with an outside organization to share funding to enhance recreation and natural resource management. In this partnership, the Hartwell Project will provide $25,000 through the grant and government funding will be matched by a $20,000 donation from the IMBA/SORBA.   “The Handshake Challenge Partnership is a way for the Corps to leverage its budget by sharing costs and to execute recreation programs that may not be possible otherwise,” said Virgil Hobbs, Hartwell Project Manager, at the Corps’ Hartwell Lake Office. It allows the Corps to accept funds, materials and volunteer services following the approval of a partnership agreement, to accomplish work programs.  

The Handshake Partnership Program was introduced in 2004 and authorized under Section 225 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1992. “This is a great example of the federal government and local groups working together to improve recreation for everyone,” said Hobbs. “We’re honored to receive this award and work with IMBA/SORBA to build these trails.”

For more information on the Corps’ Hartwell Lake Project or Paynes Creek Campground please visit their website at http://www.sas.usace.army.mil/lakes/hartwell
1-888-893-0678. or call the office toll free at