Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar 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 (BIG) 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, AL. 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, AK. 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, LA. 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, FL. 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, FL. 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, MS. 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, CT. 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, NY. 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, PA. 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, CA. 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