Topline: Officials at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may have watched one too many Steven Spielberg movies. They’ve determined that waterfront areas around the country are all going to need accommodate bigger boats, and they’re doling out $18 million of taxpayer money to make it happen.
Key facts: State recreation agencies can now apply for funds to help parks build “boating infrastructure facilities” for “vessels at least 26 feet long that are operated … primarily for pleasure,” according to two new grant notices.
A 26-foot boat is classified as a yacht by the National Marine Manufacturing Association.
Six states have already received the maximum award of $1.5 million so far this year, with three more receiving just a few hundred dollars less than that.
States are required to match at least 25% of the funds. Funds can also be used to create educational materials about boating.
The Boating Infrastructure Grant program began in 1998. Since being reauthorized by President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in late 2021, it has spent $121 million in combined federal and state funds.
The program’s webpage boasts that it serves vital functions like “promoting awareness” of boats and “strengthening local community ties” between boaters and manufacturers.
There are 11 million recreational boats in the U.S., of which 596,000 are at least 26 feet long, according to the grant notice.
The grants are funded through the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, which is made up of taxes on boats and fishing equipment and import duties. It’s worth an average of $713 million annually.
Search all federal, state and local government salaries and vendor spending with the AI search bot, Benjamin, at OpenTheBooks.com.
Summary: A 26-foot vessel is indeed impressive, but it still probably couldn’t fit all the cash the government is spending on sailing the seas.
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