The Fish and Boat Commission this week awarded more than $1.8 million in grants to 22 municipalities to develop, improve or rehabilitate public recreational boat launches and encouraged eligible public entities to apply for a second round of funding through the Boating Facilities Grant Program.

The deadline for the next round of grants is October 1.

The PFBC initiated the Boating Facilities Grant Program earlier this year to help ensure Pennsylvania’s recreational boaters are provided with the highest quality boating facilities on water bodies across the state.

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.

A complete list of grant recipients is available in the awards announcement.

To be eligible, projects must meet these criteria—

· 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;

· include projects like boat ramps, courtesy floats, restrooms, access roads, parking areas, landscaping, transient tie-up floats, and signs;

· be from 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;

· 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 Commission 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; and

· highest priority will be given 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 come 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, visit the Boating Facility Grant Program announcement webpage.

7/22/2005