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 U.S. Coast Guard awarded the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission $2,919,516 under the Boating Safety Financial Assistance program (CFDA 97.012) on October 1, 2025, to support recreational boating safety activities in Washington State through September 30, 2028.

The award funds boating safety education, law enforcement, and infrastructure activities including purchase, operation, maintenance, and repair of facilities and equipment for boating safety education and law enforcement; training personnel in boating safety skills and enforcement of boating safety laws; delivery of public boating safety education programs and lectures to the boating community and public schools; acquisition, construction, or repair of public access sites used primarily by recreational boaters; boating safety inspections and marine casualty investigations; establishment and maintenance of emergency and search and rescue facilities and assistance; establishment and maintenance of waterway markers and aids to navigation; and support for state recreational vessel numbering and titling programs. This is a formula grant, and assistance type, with performance occurring in Washington State.

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.