The Fish and Boat Commission is now accepting applications for the Boating Facility and Erie Access Improvement grant programs.  The deadline for applications is December 30.

Boating Facility

The Boating Facility Grant Program provides grants for planning, acquisition, development, expansion, and rehabilitation of public boating facilities located on the waters of the Commonwealth.  

The PFBC encourages townships, boroughs, and municipal and county governments to apply.  Nonprofit groups (501c3) including land trusts, conservancies, and watershed associations are also eligible to apply.  Private businesses and service clubs are not eligible for direct funding but are encouraged to partner with their local county or municipality.

"Interest in boating continues to remain high among families and individuals looking to get outdoors," said Tim Schaeffer, PFBC Executive Director.  "Many existing boating access points quickly reach their capacity with boaters eager to be on the water.  Funds awarded through this grant program can help communities improve existing access areas or develop something new to serve local residents and attract recreational boaters to their region."

Applicants can seek grants for site acquisition, development, expansion, prevention of the spread of aquatic invasive species, and rehabilitation of recreational boat access facilities.  Eligible construction projects may include boat ramps, courtesy floats, restrooms, access roads, parking areas and signs.  Funds may also be used to make facilities ADA compliant. 

Funding requests require a 50% match. For the 2022 round of grants, the PFBC will accept applications from anywhere in the Commonwealth.

Click Here for all the details. 

Erie Access

Through this program, funding is available to support projects that provide public fishing access or protect or improve fish habitat for Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay, their tributaries, and waters that flow into those tributaries. 

Entities that may qualify for funding through this program include municipal and county governments, and nonprofit groups (501c3) including land trusts, conservancies, and watershed associations.

Applicants may seek grants for site acquisition, access development, expansion, rehabilitation, and other types of projects that benefit recreational fishing and public fishing access on Lake Erie or its tributaries. 

Projects to rehabilitate existing access sites, such as construction of access roads and parking lots, or projects that bring facilities into ADA compliance are also eligible for funding. 

Habitat projects, fisheries research, and the development of fish cleaning stations may also qualify.  Funding requests require a 50% match.

Click Here for all the details.

[Posted: October 4, 2022]

10/10/2022