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State outlines $2 million boating‑recreation grant: Sept. 1 application window, 25% match encouraged, search‑and‑rescue funds available
Summary
Division staff described a proposed $2,000,000 Utah Boating Recreation Grant (opening Sept. 1, closing Oct. 15) for public boating facilities, drought-access mitigation, erosion protection and search‑and‑rescue equipment; officials prefer a 25% match and guidance will suggest caps and phase‑based applications.
Jorge Vasquez, recreation grant analyst with the Division of Outdoor Recreation, briefed the Boating Advisory Council on a proposed Utah Boating Recreation Grant that the division plans to open to eligible governmental entities and water conservancy districts beginning Sept. 1 with an Oct. 15 closing date.
Vasquez said the fund would hold roughly $2,000,000, with a likely maximum single‑project request guidance near $500,000 and a suggestion that infrastructure projects requesting more than $300,000 justify the larger ask to the council. He said the program expects applicants to provide a 25% match (cash and in‑kind can be combined but cash is preferred), and that applicants could request reduced match with written justification. Staff also flagged that funds spent before a contract is executed would be ineligible.
Eligible uses described included construction or repair of publicly owned boating facilities (ramps, docks, parking), erosion and waterway protection only where damage is caused by vessel wave action, drought access mitigation such as extending ramps, alternative access for nonmotorized users, and purchases of search‑and‑rescue equipment (staff noted search and rescue requests would typically be smaller—on the order of around $100,000).
Vasquez said eligible applicants are cities, towns, counties, state agencies and water conservancy districts; regional planning agencies or watershed councils would need to partner with an eligible entity or pursue statutory change. He encouraged applicants to include letters of support (for example from a nearby marina or the Bureau of Reclamation for reservoir projects) and said applications will request project timelines, permits and any cultural‑resource documentation (SHPO) where applicable.
Council discussion focused on whether phased/multi‑year projects would be allowed; Vasquez said phase‑based projects could be submitted but subsequent phases would need to reapply and there would be no guaranteed future funding. Staff and members also discussed evaluation weighting on the back end, possible partial funding to stretch available dollars across more projects, and a desire to capture maintenance and lifecycle planning in applications.
Vasquez invited written comments on draft application language ahead of the opening; staff said they will provide application materials and scoring details to the council during the evaluation process.
