Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural announces that the Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) is currently offering five grants of up to $10,000 each to be awarded to active members of the recreational boating industry.
“This project is the first of its kind offering small grant awards to Virgin Islanders engaged in recreational activities near our waterways. The program has the potential to transform public access to our pristine marine resources,” said Dr. Nicole Angeli, Ph.D., director of the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
The types of projects available through the Division of Fish and Wildlife funded Boating Access Grants program includes, but is not limited to: reimbursement for materials and supplies related to the construction or repairs of public docks, ramps, piers, bulkheads, parking lots, or moorings; instillation of fish cleaning tables; maintenance, nuisance or hazard mitigation; installation of first aid stations, telephones, Wi-Fi, restrooms, or vessel pump-out stations at recreational boating access sites or for recreational boaters. A full list of eligible projects can be found at: https://www.fws.gov/policy/e1517fw7.html.
Proposals should include the following and be submitted via email to DFWelectronic@usvi.onmicrosoft.com:
The applicant’s contact information
A project description
A budget with existing matching funds
A map of the project’s location
A completion timeline.
All proposals must be received by June 1. Proposals not funded in this funding cycle are eligible to re-apply in subsequent funding cycles.
For more information, contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at DFWelectronic@usvi.onmicrosoft.com.