The Hills to Sea Trail Coalition recently received a $5,000 grant from the Quimby Family Foundation to support operations for its work in Waldo County. The funding supports trail projects, outreach and education initiatives, and work on organizational sustainability.

According to a news release, the coalition’s signature project is the Hills to Sea Trail, a footpath from Unity to Belfast. Other current projects include a new 5.5-mile trail network in Liberty at Lake St. George State Park and surrounding Midcoast Conservancy lands that will open this summer, a collaborative project at the Belfast Area Children’s Center to create an outdoor classroom that also involved Coastal Mountains Land Trust, and a conservation project in Unity to protect 104 acres of old forest with a forever-wild easement. The land is owned by the Bowsprit Foundation and is protected by an easement held by Maine Farmland Trust.

In addition to the Quimby Family Foundation award, the coalition is the recipient of the Belfast Community Co-op’s Common Cents program for the month of March. The program allows shoppers to round up the cost of their purchase to support local nonprofits. 

To learn more about the coalition, please visit www.hillstosea.org.