The purpose of the state recreational boating safety program is to encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts, and particularly to permit the states to assume the…

The Department of Homeland Security US Coast Guard awarded the Illinois Department of Natural Resources $1,865,189 in Boating Safety Financial Assistance funding (CFDA 97.012) on October 1, 2025, for recreational boating safety activities in Illinois through September 30, 2028.

The State Recreational Boating Safety Program supports state participation in boating safety education, enforcement, and assistance. Eligible uses of federal funds include providing facilities, equipment, and supplies for boating safety education and law enforcement; training personnel in boating safety and enforcement; delivering public boating safety education to the boating community and public school system; acquiring, constructing, or repairing public access sites for recreational boaters; conducting boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations; establishing and maintaining emergency and search-and-rescue facilities; establishing and maintaining waterway markers and aids to navigation; and administering state recreational vessel numbering and titling programs. The assistance type is a formula grant, awarded through a cooperative agreement restricted to eligible state agencies.

The purpose of the state recreational boating safety program is to encourage greater state participation and uniformity in boating safety efforts, and particularly to permit the states to assume the greater share of boating safety education, assistance, and enforcement activities. Federal funds provided for a state's boating safety program may be used for any of the following expenses. 1. Providing facilities, equipment, and supplies for boating safety education and law enforcement, including purchase, operation, maintenance, and repair. 2. Training personnel in skills related to boating safety and to the enforcement of boating safety laws and regulations. 3. Providing public boating safety education, including educational programs and lectures, to the boating community and the public school system. 4. Acquiring, constructing, or repairing public access sites used primarily by recreational boaters. 5. Conducting boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations. 6. Establishing and maintaining emergency or search and rescue facilities, and providing emergency or search and rescue assistance. 7. Establishing and maintaining waterway markers and other appropriate aids to navigation. 8. Providing state recreational vessel numbering and titling programs.