 |
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that more than $7.5 million in grants to boost recreational boating will be distributed this year for construction and renovation of recreational boating facilities around the country.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Boating Infrastructure Grant program has selected 11 programs in 10 states to receive the funding.
"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 in a press statement.
Outdoor recreation, including boating and fishing, contribute an estimated $730 billion to the U.S. economy each year, Salazar noted.
Funding for the Boating Infrastructure Grant program is highly competitive. The projects receiving grants are:
- The Docks at Manderson Landing, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Rockwater Marina, North Little Rock, Arkansas
- Slidell Municipal Marina at Heritage Park, Slidell, Louisiana
- Garrison Bight Marina Transient Dock, Key West, Florida
- St. Pete Beach Transient Docks, St. Pete Beach, Florida
- J. P. Coleman State Park, Iuka, Mississippi
- Wethersfield Cove Marina, Wethersfield, Connecticut
- Market Pier Docks, Washington, DC
- Gratwick Park Marina, New York
- SouthSide Works Marina, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Oyster Point, San Mateo County, California
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Boating Infrastructure Grant program is part of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative.
More Outdoor News: America's Great Outdoors Initiative | U.S. Forest Service Grants for Conservation Projects | 2012 National Park Fee Free Days | Healthy Kids Outdoors Act