The BoatU.S. Boating Safety and Clean Water Foundation awards $25,000 in clean water grants to 13 organizations and announces its award for environmental excellence.
Thirteen grassroots organizations were awarded grants by the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water to support clean water projects. The foundation is national non-profit sponsored by the Boat Owners Association to the United States (BoatU.S.). A total of $25,000 was awarded with groups receiving up to $4,000 each. Projects are meant to reduce marine debris or improve clean boating practices. More than 100 organizations competed for grant funding from the foundation.
Susan Shingledecker, Director of Environmental Programs for the BoatU.S. Foundation says of the program, “By working with these on-the-ground partners we are able to influence boaters with information that has a distinct local point of view. It’s exciting to see the interest in environmentally sound boating from groups all over the country."
Along with the award of 13 clean water grants, the foundation announced that the Oyster Bay Power Squadron of Oyster Bay, New York had received the group's Clean Water Grants Excellence Award recognizing the organization that realizes the best success in finishing their BoatU.S. sponsored project. The Oyster Bay Power Squadron received an additional $1,000 for their efforts. The group's clean water project involved development of informational signs and brochures pointing out the location of pumpout stations and guidelines for boat fueling practices.
Groups receiving clean water grants from BoatU.S. Foundation this year include:
- Cornell University Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County in Centerport, New York
- Friends of Jackson County Conservation in Maquoketa, Iowa
- Lake Lanier Association from Gainesville, Georgia
- Lakes Restoration Committee of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber Foundation in Albert Lea, Minnesota
- Little Miami River Partnership from Owensville, Ohio
- Monroe Boat Club and Lake Erie Environmental Outreach Program of the Monroe Public Schools in Novi, Michigan
- Patchogue Bay Power Squadron of East Islip, New York
- USCGA 9-4 of Mohave Valley, Arizona
- USCGA 17-2-1 of Homer, Alaska
- USCGA 54-20-06 of Washington, North Carolina
- USCGA 5S-3-10 from Tappahannock, Virginia
- USCGA 8CR-1-9 from Panama City Beach, Florida
- USCGA 9-3-2 from Lancaster, New York
