Contact: Susan Zemek,
360-902-3081
susanz@iac.wa.gov

$2 Million in Boating Grants Awarded to Six Communities

OLYMPIA - Boating projects in six communities will receive funding totaling more than $2 million, the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation announced today.

"Boating is a popular activity in Washington, with nearly 375,000 people participating," said Laura Johnson, director of the Office of the Interagency Committee. "It's an important part of our culture, recreation and economy. These grants help cities, counties and ports keep up with demand and provide good facilities for boaters."

The Interagency Committee distributes Boating Facilities Program grants to local communities every other year. Projects in the following counties were awarded funding (please read the project list for details):

This year, the Interagency Committee received 11 applications, requesting more than $4 million in funding. The grant applications were reviewed and ranked in September by a nine-member evaluation team comprised of representatives of county and city park departments, state natural resource agencies, ports and recreational boaters.

"Competition is stiff for these grants," Johnson said. "The evaluation committee looks at everything from need, to how well the project is designed to how the boating experience will be affected by the improvements. The tough criteria help ensure that the best of the best projects are being funded."

In addition, grant recipients committed nearly $1.7 million in matching value, making the total investment in boating projects more than $3.7 million.

Created in 1964 by voter Initiative 215, the Boating Facilities Program offers grants to state and local governments to plan for, buy, develop and renovate boating facilities, including launch ramps, short-term moorage and other support facilities, for motorboats. The program is funded by a portion of the gasoline taxes paid by boaters.