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 U.S. Coast Guard awarded the Wildlife Resources Agency, Tennessee $2,291,205 in formula grant funding on October 1, 2025, under the Boating Safety Financial Assistance program (CFDA 97.012).

The funding supports Tennessee's recreational boating safety program through facility, equipment, and supply acquisition for boating safety education and law enforcement; personnel training in boating safety skills and enforcement of boating safety regulations; public boating safety education including programs, lectures, and school system outreach; acquisition, construction, or repair of public access sites for recreational boaters; boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations; establishment and maintenance of emergency and search-and-rescue facilities and services; waterway markers and navigational aids; and state recreational vessel numbering and titling programs.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2028, with performance in Tennessee.

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.