The U.S. Coast Guard awarded the National Safe Boating Council Inc. a $250,000 Cooperative Agreement under the National Nonprofit Organization Recreational Boating Safety Grant Program (CFDA 97.135) on October 1, 2025, for performance through September 30, 2026. Under this award, the Council will host the International Boating and Water Safety Summit (IBWSS) in 2026, a training event designed to convene over 200 domestic and international participants for professional development and knowledge sharing in recreational boating safety. The summit will feature classroom and on-water training sessions, workshops, networking opportunities, and exhibitor engagement.
This initiative strengthens the Coast Guard's boating safety mission by uniting diverse stakeholders including safety professionals, policymakers, and industry representatives. The event will facilitate the exchange of best practices, elevate professional development standards, and enhance collaboration across the recreational boating safety community. The funding supports the Council's role as a primary implementer of national-scope boating safety interventions aligned with the Coast Guard's objectives to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities on U.S. waterways.