U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Awards more than $13 Million in Grants to Boost Recreational Boating in Communities Across Nation
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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced more than $11.2 million
in competitive grants to 15 states for projects to support recreational
boating through the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program. The Fish
and Wildlife Service will also release approximately $2.4 million to 25
states, commonwealths, and territories willing to match a smaller,
non-competitive grant program known as “BIG Tier 1” funding.
Grantees use Boating Infrastructure Grant funds to construct, renovate, and
maintain facilities with features for transient boats (those staying 10
days or less) that are 26 feet or more in length and used for recreation.
Grantees may also use funds to produce and distribute information and
educational materials about the program and recreational boating.
“These grants, funded by fishing and boating enthusiasts, have helped
communities across the nation build and enhance recreational boating
facilities that provide recreational opportunities while supporting jobs
and economic growth,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “This
program is a win-win situation for recreational boaters, conservation
initiatives and job creation.”
“The BIG Grants have major impacts – not only do cruising boaters get the
benefit of facilities that they help to pay for, waterfront communities and
their small businesses also get an economic boost from visitors who enjoy
boating,” said Thom Dammrich, chairman of the Sport Fish and Boating
Partnership Council and president of the National Marine Manufacturers’
Association.
For example, a BIG grant of nearly $1.5 million, matched with nearly $1
million in non-federal funding, will enable the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat
Commission to partner with the Bucks County Riverfront Program to install
25 new day slips on the Delaware River between Philadelphia and Trenton,
New Jersey. The ADA-compliant project, part of a larger effort to improve
the waterfront in Bristol Borough, will also include new educational
signage, lighting, and breakwater structures to protect the facility.
And in Chattanooga, Tennessee, a grant of nearly $1.3 million, matched by
nearly $3.9 million in non-federal funding from the Tennessee Wildlife
Resources Agency and the City of Chattanooga, will go toward the
construction or extension of guest dockage at four prominent locations
along the south shore of the Tennessee River. Each location will include up
to 10 slips, for a total of 40 new slips for eligible vessels.
Funding for the Boating Infrastructure Grant program comes from the Sport
Fish Restoration and Boating Trust
formerly known as the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, which boaters and
manufacturers support through excise and other taxes on certain fishing and
boating equipment and gasoline.
Projects receiving competitive grants are:
· *Shoal Bay Marina Redevelopment, Logan County, Ark. – *BIG grant:
$1,215,841; non-Federal match: $721,175; total project cost: $1,937,016
· *City of Rio Vista Guest Dock, Rio Vista, Calif. – *BIG grant:
$225,000; non-Federal match: $75,000; total project cost: $300,000
· *Thamesport Marina Transient Docks, New London, Conn. – *BIG grant:
$1,430,975; non-Federal match: $502,775; total project cost: $1,933,750
· *Gulfport Casino Dock Redevelopment, Gulfport, Fla. – *BIG grant:
$112,613; non-Federal match: $268,137; total project cost: $380,750
· *Madeira Beach Municipal Marina Redevelopment, Madeira Beach, Fla. –
*BIG grant: $322,516; non-Federal match: $499,550; total project cost:
$822,066
· *Lahaina Roadstead Offshore Mooring Installation, Lahaina, Hawaii – *BIG
grant: $248,500; non-Federal match: $248,500; total project cost: $497,000
· *Belfast Harbor Waterfront Rehabilitation, Belfast, Maine – *BIG
grant: $120,897; non-Federal match: $120,897; total project cost: $241,795
· *Annapolis City Dock Improvement, Annapolis, Md. – *BIG grant:
$1,500,000; non-Federal match: $2,703,478; total project cost: $4,203,478
· *Seaport Landing Marina Transient Boat Access, Lynn, Mass. – *BIG
grant: $267,700; non-Federal match: $100,000; total project cost: $367,700
· *Port Austin State Harbor Dock Renovation, Port Austin, Mich. – *BIG
grant: $747,250; non-Federal match: $747,250; total project cost: $1,494,500
· *Ironton Riverfront Boat Ramp and Docks, Ironton, Ohio – *BIG grant:
$636,000; non-Federal match: $212,634; total project cost: $848,634
· *Port of Arlington Marine Fuel Station and Utility Upgrade,
Arlington, Ore. – *BIG grant: $190,191; non-Federal match: $129,809; total
project cost: $320,000
· *Bristol Borough Waterfront Improvement, Bristol, Pa. – *BIG grant:
$1,492,195; non-Federal match: $999,355; total project cost: $2,491,550
· *Ann Street Public Pier Project, Newport, R.I. – *BIG grant:
$740,000; non-Federal match: $260,000; total project cost: $1,000,000
· *Downtown Chattanooga Transient Docks, Chattanooga, Tenn. – *BIG
grant: $1,285,868; non-Federal match: $3,857,607; total project cost:
$5,143,475
· *Deltaville Marina Transient Pier, Deltaville, Va. – *BIG grant:
$743,891; non-Federal match: $261,367; total project cost: $1,005,258
For more information on each of the grant projects, visit
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