Trust chief executive Paul Allison said the grant also took its contributions to the Central Otago community to over $50 million since its inception on November 1, 2000.
The money had benefited more than 1500 applicants in that time.
"This is a significant milestone and quite an amazing achievement."
In 2001-02, the trust granted $1 million to the Central Otago District Council for the Alexandra swimming pool, in 2003-05 $1.05 million went to the Alexandra Cultural Centre Trust and another $1 million was granted to the Goldfields Museum Charitable Trust in 2004-05.
The same year, Central Otago Health received $2 million, with the Living Options Charitable Trust receiving $1 million the following year.
A $2 million grant was given to the Queenstown Lakes District Council for Alpine Aqualand, with half the grant delivered in 2005-06 and the remainder the next year.
The Cromwell Swim Centre received $1.2 million in 2005-06; the trust ICT programme received $1.5 million in 2007-08; and a further $1 million was given to the Alexandra Community House Trust last year.
The trust's grant to the Trails Trust reflected the "significance of the project", Mr Allison said.
"The way we view it, it's very important for the region. This is a special day all round."
Three trails in the trust's region had now been accepted into the New Zealand Cycle Trails Project and Mr Allison expected to receive other funding applications. trust chairman Sir Eion Edgar praised the trustees, both existing and past, for their foresight.
"I think ... there was a lot of angst among the community whether this money should be distributed out to the greater community [or not].
"It is fantastic for a growing community like Central Otago."
The trust was formed in 2000 with $155 million from the disestablished Otago Central Electric Power Board.
