Boating Infrastructure Grants to aid Sandy-impacted marinas

The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) today announced the award of more than $370,000 to three recreational boating marinas through the federal National Boating Infrastructure Grant (NBIG) program.

The grants, provided through the U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, advance ongoing Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts along the Jersey Shore.

The three NBIG grants, awarded in August as part of a package of more than $6.9 million in competitive grants awarded to six states and one U.S. territory for projects to support recreational boating through the NBIG Tier II program, will help restore the marinas to their pre-storm conditions with safety and operational upgrades.

• Belmar Municipal Marina in Monmouth County will receive $270,059 to help fix and update damaged docks, gangways, utilities and other facilities. A new security system and WiFi service will be installed as well.

• Silver Cloud Harbor Marina, a privately owned marina in Forked River (Lacey), Ocean County will receive $65,710 to help renovate a section of existing bulkhead along the Barnegat Bay to provide six new boat slips. Additionally, the marina will install power, water and new lighting.\

• Grassy Sound Marina in Middle Township, Cape May County will receive $36,364 to help repair damaged gangways and utilities and rebuild the fueling facility. New bathrooms and showers will also be installed at the marina.

Since 2001, NJDOT’s Office of Maritime Resources (OMR) has accepted proposals from privately and publicly owned marinas for funding under the NBIG program, obtaining more than $3 million in grants to date.

NBIG funds are provided to states “to construct, renovate, and maintain tie-up facilities” for transient, recreational vessels 26 feet or more in length, and are distributed annually. Some examples of development and programs allowed under NBIG include navigational aides, one time dredging, breakwaters, dockside utility service, recycling and trash receptacles, marketing materials, and other services that serve to increase transient boating nationally.

NJDOT/OMR is currently accepting Letters of Interest (LOI) for FY 2014 NBIG funding. Once a LOI has been approved, draft NBIG applications are due to NJDOT’s Office of Maritime Resources by September 18, 2013 and final applications will be due by October 16, 2013.