Ohio issues $309,300 Zaleski Trail improvement solicitation for Vinton County

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Engineering has posted a solicitation to fund improvements at the Zaleski Trail within Zaleski State Forest in Vinton County. The opportunity, listed as DNR-250040 and posted on Dec. 22, 2025, carries an estimated budget of $309,300. Official project documents are available through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission portal and the listing includes bid and response deadlines as well as project performance timing.

The procurement requires bidders to comply with prevailing wage rates and Ohio EDGE goals, alongside other state procurement requirements. Those conditions shape who can compete and how work will be priced, because prevailing wage rules set minimum pay rates for labor on public projects and the EDGE program sets goals for participation by firms that the state seeks to include. Contractors pursuing the work will need to factor those requirements into bids and project schedules.

For Vinton County residents and businesses the work is significant both for recreation and the local economy. Zaleski Trail is a recreational asset for hikers, campers and visitors to the state forest; improvements can increase trail safety, accessibility and year-round usability. The budget size positions this as a modest but meaningful public works project that may provide short-term contracting work for local firms and laborers while delivering long-term benefits for outdoor recreation that supports nearby communities.

The procurement structure means the project will move through formal state contracting steps before construction begins. Bidders should review the OFCC-hosted documents to confirm exact response deadlines, performance windows and required forms. Compliance with state wage and inclusion standards can add administrative steps for small contractors, but successful local bids could keep more of the project’s economic activity in Vinton County.

Community leaders and trail users should expect typical public-project impacts during execution, including brief construction-related disturbances to parts of the trail and staging areas. In the medium term, completed improvements are likely to make the trail easier to navigate and more attractive to visitors, which could modestly boost outdoor recreation traffic to the county.

Next steps: contractors interested in bidding must consult the OFCC posting for Opportunity ID DNR-250040, meet prevailing wage and Ohio EDGE requirements and submit responses within the posted deadline period. For residents, the project signals forthcoming work that aims to preserve and improve a local natural asset while offering near-term contracting opportunities for qualified businesses.