The Fish and Boat Commission has announced that non-profit land trusts, conservancies, and watershed associations may now directly apply for grants through the agency’s Boating Facilities Grant Program.

The program previously allowed only local government entities to apply for the grants.

Applications are due October 31.

The grant program, administered by the PFBC, will reimburse recipients for up to 75 percent of the costs for land acquisition, project design and engineering, development, expansion, and major rehabilitation of public recreational boat access facilities in Pennsylvania.

Eligible activities include the rehabilitation, expansion or construction of new boat ramps, bulkheads, courtesy floats, access roads, parking areas, restrooms, signs and localized landscaping. Activities must benefit and directly support public recreational boating. Eligible projects must occur on public lands owned by the project sponsor, or where the sponsor has a long-term lease or agreement on the site.

Program grant funds are available in each annual state fiscal period as authorized and allocated by the PFBC.

The Boating Facility Grant Program funds are derived from boat registration fees, state fuel taxes collected on fuel used in motorboats, and taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel from the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program. General state funds are not used for this program.

For more information about the Boating Facility Grant Program and an application, visit the Boating Facilities Grant Program webpage.

9/19/2008