The Fish and Boat Commission announced a new grant program this week for county and municipal governments interested in the planning, acquisition, development, expansion, or rehabilitation of public boating facilities.

The deadline for applications is April 30.

The program is designed for public entities that have or will have the capability to provide boat access facilities that are open and available for general public use. Schools, non-profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations and service clubs are not eligible for direct funding but can apply through their local government for funding.

Funds can be used for site acquisition, project design and engineering, development, expansion and major rehabilitation of public recreational boat access facilities. Activities must benefit and directly support recreational boating. Eligible projects must occur on public lands owned in “fee simple” by the project sponsor or where ownership is less than fee simple interest, ownership rights must provide for permanent control of the property commensurate with the proposed development.

Eligible construction projects include: boat ramps, courtesy floats, restrooms, access roads, parking areas, landscaping, transient tie-up floats, and signs. Grant funds are to be used only for major site improvements and not for any routine maintenance or operation activities.

Successful applicants must provide a 25 percent grant match and be willing to enter into a long-term agreement to keep the facility open to free public use for its useful life. The PFBC will give priority-funding consideration to applicants that provide more than the required 25 percent match, thereby reducing the total amount of grant funds required to complete the project.

The PFBC recognizes that in some instances that the cash match is not easily obtainable by the applicant. In select instances, the Commission may approve up to 100 percent of the construction costs.

The PFBC gives highest priority to the rehabilitation of existing facilities, followed by expansion of existing facilities, then acquisition and development of new boating facilities.

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. No state general funds are used for any Commission programs.

For more information, go to the Boating Facility Grant Program announcement webpage.

2/4/2005