AMERICA’S GREAT OUTDOORS: Salazar Announces Grants to Boost Recreational Boating in 10 States

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Infrastructure projects provide opportunities for outdoor recreation,
create jobs

WASHINGTON -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced more
than $7.5 million in competitive grants to 10 states for 11 projects to
support recreational boating through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s
Boating Infrastructure Grant program.

“Recreational boaters and anglers contribute to our nation’s thriving
outdoor recreation economy and play an important role in conservation of
our rivers, watersheds and oceans,” Secretary Salazar said. “These
competitive grants will help provide quality opportunities and access to
America’s great outdoors for our nation’s boaters and anglers, while
creating jobs by funding major construction projects to build docks, boat
slips and facilities.”

Outdoor recreation, including boating and fishing, contribute an estimated
$730 billion to the U.S. economy each year, Salazar noted.

The Service will also release approximately $2.5 million to 26 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.

Funding for the Boating Infrastructure Grant program comes from the Sport
Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, 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 boat
fuel.


The 11 projects receiving the competitive grants include:

The Docks at Manderson Landing, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
BIG Grant
 $  199,568
The Alabama Department of Environmental Management will partner with the
University of Alabama to construct a floating dock with eight handicap
accessible slips, a pumpout, dockside electric service, a pedestrian
access ramp, retaining wall, and a gangway ramp providing ADA
accessibility for transient non-trailerable recreation boaters.
Non-Federal Match:
 $  368,000
Total Project Cost:
 $  567,568


Rockwater Marina, North Little Rock, Arkansas
BIG Grant
 $1,028,425
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will partner with LAD, LLC, MariCorp
U.S., LLC, the City of North Little Rock, the North Little Rock Visitors
Bureau and the Arkansas Department of Health to create 25 transient slips
and fuel services for recreational vessels up to 70 feet long at Rockwater
Marina.
Non-Federal Match:
 $  578,489
Total Project Cost:
 $1,606,914


Slidell Municipal Marina at Heritage Park, Slidell, Louisiana
BIG Grant
 $1,500,000
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries will partner with the
City of Slidell to renovate existing bulkheads, construct 42 additional
floating lay along docking spaces, and install safe walkways for boaters
to access the park and downtown area at its current Heritage Park
location.
Non-Federal Match:
 $1,001,000
Total Project Cost:
 $2,501,000


Garrison Bight Marina Transient Dock, Key West, Florida
BIG Grant
 $  500,000
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will partner with
the City of Key West to replace the transient dock restroom, bathhouse,
laundry facilities and electric wiring at the Garrison Bight Marina.
Non-Federal Match:
 $  400,000
Total Project Cost:
 $  900,000


St. Pete Beach Transient Docks, St. Pete Beach, Florida
BIG Grant
 $  219,750
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will partner with
the City of St. Pete Beach to construct 12 new transient boat slips.
Electrical, water, and pumpout utilities will be provided.
Non-Federal Match:
 $    91,285
Total Project Cost:
 $  311,035


J. P. Coleman State Park, Iuka, Mississippi
BIG Grant
 $  802,560
The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks will partner
with Tishomingo County Board of Supervisors, the Tishomingo County
Development Foundation and The Tombigbee River Valley Water Management
District to construct 20 transient boating slips at the J. P. Coleman
State Park marina.
Non-Federal Match:
 $  451,440
Total Project Cost:
 $1,254,000


Wethersfield Cove Marina, Wethersfield, Connecticut
BIG Grant
 $  494,650
The State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
will partner with the Town of Wethersfield to construct a transient boat
marina, consisting of seven transient slips and 51 moorings designated for
the use of transient, non-trailerable recreational vessels.
Non-Federal Match:
 $  298,400
Total Project Cost:
 $  793,050


Market Pier Docks, Washington, DC
BIG Grant
 $1,423,110
The District of Columbia, Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and
Economic Development will partner with the private development team of
Hoffman-Madison Waterfront, LLC for the redevelopment efforts of the
District's Southwest Waterfront.  The project includes the construction of
54 transient slips with ADA accessibility.
Non-Federal Match:
 $1,423,111
Total Project Cost:
 $2,846,221


Gratwick Park Marina, New York
BIG Grant
 $  686,919
The New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will
partner with the City of North Tonawanda and the Lumber City Development
Corporation to install new transient docks with utilities, replace
bulkheads and provide a landside restroom.
Non-Federal Match:
 $  241,350
Total Project Cost:
 $  928,269


SouthSide Works Marina, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
BIG Grant
 $  405,377
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will partner with the City of
Pittsburgh's Urban Redevelopment Authority, in collaboration with the
Soffer Organization and Fox Chapel Sea Ray Inc. to construct 16 transient
boat slips and other transient amenities and services adjacent to the
South Shore Riverfront Park on the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh.
Non-Federal Match:
 $  238,079
Total Project Cost:
 $  643,456


Oyster Point, San Mateo County, California
BIG Grant
 $  250,000
The California Department of Boating and Waterways will partner with the
San Mateo County Harbor District to replace an existing 156-feet long
transient dock with a wider transient dock of the same length, with
upgraded electrical service and new gangway.
Non-Federal Match:
 $  350,000
Total Project Cost:
 $  600,000