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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM ANNOUNCES FEDERAL GRANTS TO COMMUNITIES FOR BOATING FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has announced that $156,644 in US Fish and Wildlife grants has been awarded to four coastal communities to improve facilities for transient boaters. The grants will be administered by DEM.The grant applications were submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service by DEM and the Coastal Resources Management Council on behalf of the communities: Newport, Bristol, North Kingstown and New Shoreham. The grants are the first to be awarded under the Boating Infrastructure Grant program authorized by the federal Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Act of 1998 and funded by excise taxes on motorboat fuel. Each grant requires a 25 percent funding match from the local community. The recipients and projects are: Bristol. $27,750 to replace the existing dock at Independence Park with a dinghy dock to service transient vessels using the town's mooring field in Bristol Harbor. New Shoreham. $51,975 to renovate and expand the existing Old Harbor Hospitality Center by removing and replacing windows and doors, expanding the shower areas, and adding a separate office for the harbormaster. Newport. $37,000 to add five floating docks to the Elm Street pier for loading and unloading passengers and short term tie-up. North Kingstown. $28,714 to for boating improvements in Wickford Harbor. The funds will be used to add six transient moorings in, construct a bulletin board at the town dock to provide information to transient boaters, widen the ramp to the transient dock and provide a supply of freshwater to the transient dock. North Kingstown. $11,205 to add three new transient moorings in Allen's Harbor and provide additional lighting and landscaping at the town-operated marine facility at Allen's Harbor. The grants to Rhode Island communities were part of a total of $9 million in funds awarded through out the country to help improve docking facilities for transient, non-trailerable boats along navigable waterways. The grants represent a big push by the Fish and Wildlife Service to improve boating and fishing opportunities, strengthen community ties to the water's edge, and promote economic activity by providing public access from the water to the shore. -30- |
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