More Than $570,000 Awarded to Ohio for Boating Safety

The state is awarding more than $570,000 from its Waterways Safety Fund to 23 community public safety agencies.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources says the grants ranging from around $13,500 to $32,000 are funded by Ohio’s recreational boaters through the Waterways Safety Fund. The fund is comprised of a share of the state motor fuel tax, watercraft registration and titling fees and funding from the U.S. Coast Guard.

The department’s Division of Watercraft provides assistance to local public safety agencies to support local marine patrol programs through a competitive grant program.

State officials say the grants are used by local law enforcement agencies to provide emergency response to boating-related accidents, routine patrols on area waterways and to purchase safety equipment for use on marine patrol vessels.