Boating Facilities Fund
Grants-in-Aid
Purpose
The Boating Facilities Fund funds access sites to the waters of Maine for public recreational boating. The Boating Facilities Fund Grant Program, administered by the Department's Bureau of Parks and Lands, assists towns, cities, districts and other public and private agencies in the acquisition, development, enhancement, or rehabilitation of boat launching facilities available to the general public. Sites on both tidal and non-tidal waters are eligible. Funding is available to assist in the development of hand-carry as well as trailered boat launching facilities. However, since the Fund derives its revenue from a portion of the gasoline taxes generated by recreational motor boaters, priority is given to funding launching facilities that can be used by both motor and non-motorized watercraft. The fund is not intended to provide non-boating water access, e.g., opportunities for bank fishing, sight-seeing, picnicking, where boat launching does not take place. Grants may be monetary or in the form of materials, e.g., floats and concrete planking for ramps.
Who may apply for a grant?
The applicant must have right, title or interest in the land to be acquired and/or developed and legally assure that the site will be available to the general public.
What costs are eligible for the grant?
A grant may be used for:
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land appraisal, legal, and other professional services associated with the acquisition of land rights needed for the project;
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purchase of land rights up to appraised fair market value;
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professional design/engineering services;
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approved construction costs;
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administrative costs such as advertising for bids and recording deeds;
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permit fees paid to external regulators;
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construction management and inspection costs.
What costs are not eligible for this grant?
A grant will not pay for:
Policies and Guidelines
Policies and guidelines the Bureau follows in processing grant requests:
Willing Seller: The property owner(s) has agreed in writing to allow the applicant to consider the purchase of his/her property.
Appraised Value: The property owner is willing to accept a price at or below fair market value for his property based on an appraisal that conforms to Boating Facility Fund appraisal standards; or the applicant is willing to make up the difference between the appraised fair market value and the owner's asking price.
Match Requirements: Generally, the recreational component of facilities found to be of statewide significance will be funded with a match requirement of up to 25%; regionally significant facilities with a 25% to 50% match requirement; and locally significant facilities with a 50% to 75% match requirement.
State Interest in Property: The property owner is expected to grant the State a perpetual easement on the property assuring its continued use as a recreational boating facility open to the general public.
Commercial Use of Proposed Facilities: Facilities funded in whole by Boating Facility Funds must be primarily for recreational use by the general public. Commercial use of the facilities may be permitted provided the commercial use does not interfere with the recreational use by the general public, including use of the associated parking facilities.
Bidding and Contract Award: Whenever construction is to be contracted, construction work must be competitively bid using Bureau standard bidding documents and procedures or similar, Bureau-approved bidding documents and procedures. Contracts shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, unless the Bureau approves otherwise.
User Fees: When grant recipients propose establishing a user fee, the fee must be approved by the Bureau. The fee must bemodest, cannot be punitive towards nonresidents and may only be used to offset documented management costs.
Accessibility: The Bureau may require grant recipients to provide components accessible by persons with disabilities, where feasible, at all new and renovated sites to the greatest extent possible, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Accessible components may include, but are not necessarily limited to parking spaces, accessible routes, docks and boarding floats, toilet structures, stairways and signs.
Coordination of State Goals, Policies and Regulations: Grant recipients are expected to plan, site, construct and manage boating access facilities in compliance with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations, and in a manner which complements state goals and plans such as the Growth Management Act.
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