The Iosco Exploration trail is funded by grants, corporate donors, individual donors, events, and fundraising initiatives. 
Recent grant awards include, but not limited to:
Extreme Terrain's Clear Trail Grant Program: award of $250
https://www.extremeterrain.com/clean-trail-initiative-program.html
Michigan Department of Transportation, TAP funding: for Phase 3 Oscoda Twp
https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9621_17216_18231---,00.html
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Iron Belle Trail Grant: aware of $1500 
https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79133_79206_83634_83663-470750--,00.html
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Iron Belle Trail Grant: award of $40,000
https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-350-79133_79206_83634_83663-470750--,00.html
​Michigan Department of Natural Resources: award of $428,800 for Plainfield Twp's phase 2 of the IET
https://www.michigan.org/michigan-department-natural-resources-dnr