March 28, 2019
SEATTLE –
The Northwest Marine Trade Association’s (NMTA) Grow Boating Grant Program
announced it has given $27,083 in funding or loan opportunities to 21 boating
programs in the Pacific Northwest.
Over the past 16 years the
program has invested more than $2-million in funding to non-profit groups or
organizations that help boost the number of boaters and watercraft users and
encourages boaters to use their boat more often. The Grow Boating Program is
funded through a surcharge on square-footage rented during the Seattle Boat
Show.
This year 33 applicants
submitted a request of $169,337, and the Grow Boating Committee members spent
the past two months pouring over the requests, which were all noteworthy in one
way or another.
“The committee has gone
through another successful grant process for 2019, putting members’ funds to
good use to increase boating activity, education and excitement around the
Pacific Northwest,” said Joe Cline, the NMTA’s Grow Boating Committee Chairman.
Those awarded in 2019 with
funding supported a very diverse area that includes everything from power and
sail boats; smaller watercraft like kayaks, canoes and paddle- and sail-boards;
learn to sail guide publication; equipment and gear; promotional and marketing
funding; to educational youth events and outreach programs.
The NMTA Grow Boating
Committee oversees the management and allocation of NMTA's regional Grow
Boating fund, and determines what programs, events and promotions should be
undertaken to encourage boating in the Northwest.
2019 Grant funding was awarded to:
•Anacortes Waterfront Alliance: $1,000 for youth week-long sailing
programs and loan for dinghies.
•Bellingham Yacht Club: $500 toward youth sailing and boating
instruction, scholarships and marketing.
•Clam Island Rowing: $400 to cover Boater Education Card fees and
for gear, instruction, maintenance and marketing.
•Gig Harbor Boat Shop: $900 for supplies, materials, equipment and
help fund free summer boat rental days to engage a new audience.
•Lopez Island Family Resource: $1,500 for scholarships and
maintenance to a small rural community with little access to structured youth
sailboat programs.
•Maple Bay Yacht Club Junior Program: $1,000 to fund expansion of
junior program that offers a free community boating event in June.
•Metro Park Tacoma, Point Defiance Park: $2,000 offset boat rental
rates and educational instruction for Free Fishing Weekend in June.
•Multihull Youth Sail Foundation “My Sail”: $2,000 to help their
youth programs get off the ground plus a loan offer to purchase a Hobie 16.
•Northwest Maritime Center, Port Townsend: $5,000 pilot project to
create 20,000 printed “Learn to Sail” guides and post the guide online.
•Oregon Women’s Sailing Association: $750 for education materials,
safety gear and meeting fees for their women’s intro to sailing classes.
•PNW Chapter of Antique Classic Boat Show in Renton: $600 for launch
fees and lifejackets for a free boat show as part of the Renton River Days on
July 27.
•Port Angeles Yacht Club Sailing Program: $1,000 for marketing
purposes, plus initiatives to get adult/youth on the water and improve their
free boating day events.
•Renton Sailing Center: $1,000 for sailboat maintenance to a
longstanding all-volunteer program promoting and growing sailing.
•Sail Sand Point: $2,500 to fund youth scholarships at camps and
build an outreach program toward at-risk kids in the community.
•Schooner Martha Foundation: $833 for maintenance, moorage, staff
time and overhead toward a spring public school youth sailing series.
•Sea Scout Ship 100 Charles N. Curtis: $1,000 to purchase Furuno GPS
that will replace an outdated version.
•Shaw Island Youth Sailing Program: $500 for PFDs, first aid kit and
instructing materials for youth boating and sailing programs.
•Sound Experience: $2,000 to help pay for 143 students including
underserved teens interested in an on-water experience program.
•Spokane Canoe and Kayak Club: $500 to cover insurance, State Park
fees and marketing for the “Paddle, Splash and Play” summer event.
•Tidewater Cove Marina: $100 for signage for their “Wear It”
lifejacket station and committee will find help for lifejacket donations.
•The Center for Wooden Boats: $2,000 for maintenance and pay for
8,000 brochures to create opportunities for engagement of visitors.
About the
Northwest Marine Trade Association
The NMTA is the nation’s
largest regional marine association. It represents more than 700 companies in
the recreational boating industry, including boat dealers, boat brokers,
marinas, boatyards, manufacturers, retailers and suppliers of boating
accessories and services. The NMTA’s mission is to promote the growth of
recreational boating and members’ businesses. The NMTA produces the Seattle Boat
Show, the West Coast’s largest boat show, Anacortes Boat & Yacht Show and
the Northwest Paddling Festival. Details: http://www.nmta.net/.
