California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways Opens Grant Applications for Boating Safety Education

California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting  applications for its Aquatic Center Education Program. Local public agencies, nonprofit organizations and colleges/universities within California can apply for a share of $1.4 million in available funding. Applications are due by noon Friday, Oct. 25.

 

The competitive grants can be used for:

• Purchasing boating equipment and supplies
• Providing student scholarships for on-the-water boating courses
• Offsetting costs for boating instructor training
• Supporting boating safety-related events

Prospective applicants should review the FAQs on DBW’s website to ensure eligibility. Applications must be submitted through the division’s online system.

Each application will be evaluated based on the applicant’s ability to effectively teach on-the-water boating safety courses and enhance boaters’ understanding of boating laws, vessel handling, weather conditions and other safety topics. Grant recipients are expected to be announced in early 2025.

 

These grants are funded by the federal Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Recreational Boating Safety Grant, managed by the U.S. Coast Guard. Since the late 1970s, DBW has distributed nearly $30 million through this grant process to advance boating safety education across California, typically funding 35-40 recipients annually.

 

DBW will hold two in-person meetings for aquatic center directors this year, one in Berkeley on Sept. 25-26 and another in San Diego on Oct. 8-9. Additional details about the Aquatic Center Education Program can be found on the DBW the California State Parks.