In a nationwide effort to remove abandoned and neglected boats to help clean our nation’s waterways and make them safer for years to come, the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS) Foundation is seeking qualified, diverse and experienced organizations to submit project proposals for funding through August12.
BoatUS has secured a $10 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to fuel this major abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) cleanup effort in U.S. coastal waterways and the Great Lakes
Applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of intent online to the BoatUS Foundation no later than August 12.
“This grant enables the BoatUS Foundation to use our expertise and build upon years of experience with ADV removals,” said BoatUS Foundation Director of Outreach and Grant Programs, Alanna Keating. “This is a unique program that is open to any organization, nonprofit or for-profit, as well as local, state, territorial, tribal, and regional government agencies that could provide them a way to start clearing ADVs clogging up their local waterways.”
ADVs litter ports, waterways, and estuaries all over the country and can cause major problems. These boats can crush or smother sensitive plants and corals, leach fuel and other pollutants into the water, threaten safe navigation, and contribute to economic losses. Removing ADVs is a costly effort, often averaging more than $24,000 to remove a single boat. For many communities, there may be no local funding for removal of vessels, and navigating funding programs can be challenging for communities with limited time or resources.
The goal of this BoatUS Foundation program is to improve U.S. coastal and Great Lakes waters affected by ADVs and create a first-of-its-kind national online database to track ADV location and removal efforts. By removing the associated pollution, navigation and safety hazards ADVs can cause in waters for years, the 20-75 awardees of this grant program will have a lasting, positive impact on the environment and our waters locally and nationally for years to come.
If you miss this deadline, just keep in mind that BoatUS coordinates similar programs like this one throughout the year. More information on how to apply and grant guidelines can be found at BoatUS.org/advgrant.
