CA Offers Grants for Boating Safety Education

California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is now accepting grant applications from organizations that teach on-the-water boating safety education to the public. A total of $1.4 million in Aquatic Center Education Program grants is available to local public agencies, nonprofit organizations and colleges/universities operating within California. The deadline to apply is October 25 at noon.

The grants are competitive and can be used to:

• Purchase boating equipment and supplies
• Provide student scholarships for on-the-water boating courses
• Offset costs for boating instructor training
• Offset costs for boating safety-related events

Interested applicants should first review the FAQs listed on DBW’s website to determine if they meet the grantee eligibility requirements. Grant applications must be submitted through the division’s online grant application system. DBW will rank and score each application based on its demonstration of the applicant’s ability to safely and effectively teach on-the-water boating safety courses and enhance boaters’ knowledge of boating laws, practical handling of vessels, weather and water conditions and other boating safety information.

Grant recipients are anticipated to be awarded in early 2025. DBW administers this grant with funding from the federal Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund Recreational Boating Safety Grant, which is managed by the United States Coast Guard. Since the late 1970s, DBW has awarded nearly $30 million through this annual grant process to promote on-the-water safety education throughout California. On average, 35-40 recipients receive funding each year. DBW hosts two in-person meetings with aquatic center directors each year to share information on submitting competitive grant applications. Meetings this year are in Berkeley on September 25 and 26 and in San Diego on October 8 and 9. Detailed information regarding the Aquatic Center Education Program is available on DBW’s website.