More than $54 million grants for clean water and outdoor recreation

Published On: June 25, 2020Categories: Industry News

U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt announced $32.8 million in grants–with an additional non-federal match of $21.9 million–for states and communities to support outdoor recreation and help boaters keep America’s waters clean. The funding comes from the Clean Vessels Act (CVA) program and the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program which provide funding to communities to build and maintain facilities that help boaters keep rivers and streams clean; and construct, renovate and maintain marinas and other boating facilities for outdoor recreation.

The Trump administration has distributed more than $129 million from these programs since 2017; which has leveraged an additional $83 million in non-federal funding to provide a total of $212 million toward infrastructure projects benefiting recreational boaters. In FY 2020, 23 states will receive a total of $19.3 million in federal assistance from the CVA program to keep local waterways healthy. Pump-out systems built or purchased with these funds ensure recreational boaters have a safe, convenient and effective method to dispose of on-board sewage. The funds also support associated boater education programs.

The CVA program’s support through the user-pay-public-benefit cycle has contributed to the success of the Sport Fish Restoration program. States can apply for CVA funding, and they or their partners provide matching funds to complete projects. Sub-grantees often include local municipalities and private marinas. These partnership efforts are a win-win for clean water and the many families who enjoy recreational boating and the great outdoors. Since the program’s inception in 1993, more than $296 million in CVA grants has been allocated to states and territories.

Grantees use BIG funds to construct, renovate and maintain marinas and other facilities with features for transient boats (those staying 15 days or less), that are 26 feet or more in length and are used for recreation. Grantees may also use funds to produce and distribute information and educational materials about the program and recreational boating.

Under the BIG program, a total of $13.5 million in grants to states will support projects related to recreational boating; $10.4 million will be awarded competitively for 13 projects in 10 states under the BIG Tier II subprogram, while more than $3.1 million will fund 23 projects in 19 states under the BIG Tier I subprogram. Since its inception in 2000, the BIG program has awarded $228 million to projects for large transient recreational boats, including funding the construction of more than 6,000 berths and other amenities benefiting boaters across most states and U.S. territories.

Funding for the CVA and BIG programs comes from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Boaters and manufacturers contribute to the trust fund through excise taxes and duties on certain fishing and boating equipment and boating fuels.

More information regarding the 2020 CVA grant awards can be found here. More information about the CVA program can be found here.

More information regarding the 2020 BIG grant awards can be found here. More information about the BIG program can be found here.