ODNR Awards Funds to Local Boating Safety and Education Programs

2014 Boating Safety Education Grant Recipients

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) recently announced that more than $308,000 from the state’s Waterways Safety Fund has been awarded to support 22 community boating safety education programs next year.

Individual grants provided through the ODNR Division of Watercraft’s Boating Safety Education Grant program range from $2,562 to $30,000. The grants are funded by Ohio’s recreational boaters through the Waterways Safety Fund, which is comprised of a share of the state motor fuel tax, watercraft registration and titling fees and funding from the U.S. Coast Guard.

The ODNR Division of Watercraft provides boating safety education programs all across Ohio. This core mission of the division is accomplished by providing annual funding assistance to local communities and nonprofit organizations through a competitive grant program.

Ohio law requires any person born on or after Jan. 1, 1982, to be able to show proof they have successfully completed an approved boating safety education course if they are to operate any powered watercraft greater than 10 horsepower. Many of the programs also focus on boating skills development and basic water safety.

A listing of the 2014 Boating Safety Education grant program awards can be found online at watercraft.ohiodnr.gov.