Northwest Marine Trades Awards $31,000 in Grants

The Northwest Marine Trade Association’s (NMTA) Grow Boating Grant Program has awarded $31,000 in funding to 18 boating programs in the Pacific Northwest.

Over the past 17 years, the program has granted more than $2 million in funding to non-profit groups or organizations that help boost the number of boaters and watercraft users and encourage boaters to use their boats more often. The Grow Boating Program is funded through a surcharge on square-footage rented during the Seattle Boat Show.

This year, 22 applicants submitted grant requests totaling more than $156,000. The Grow Boating Committee, made up of NMTA members, spent two months reviewing the requests.

The 2020 grantees represent the full range of recreational boating and include everything from youth sailing organizations, tow boat events and a collegiate bass fishing club to educational youth events and outreach programs.

Grants were awarded to: Anacortes Waterfront Alliance; Antique & Classic Boat Society PNW Chapter; Bellingham Community Boating Center; Friday Harbor Power Squadron; Gig Harbor BoatShop; Oregon Women’s Sailing Foundation; Point Defiance Marina, Metro Parks Tacoma; Renton Sailing Center; Sail Sand Point; Schooner Martha Foundation; Sea Scout Ship 110 Charles N. Curtis; Sisters in Action Sports; Sound Experience; The Center for Wooden Boats; The Sailing Foundation; University of Washington Husky Sailing; and Washington State University Bass Fishing Club.