Cal Parks and Recreation Announces Open Grant Programs

The California Parks and Recreation’s Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) is excited to announce that nearly $330,000 is available through a new grant program for the preservation and interpretation of California’s irreplaceable maritime heritage. OHP is now accepting applications for the grants, which are funded by the National Park Service (NPS) through the National Maritime Heritage Grants program, for the stewardship and preservation of historical and archaeological resources associated with the maritime history of California.

The primary goal of the grant program is to assist with and promote the active preservation and use of California’s maritime heritage properties. The program will achieve this by supporting the preservation of resources that are historically underrepresented and/or of statewide or national importance, and by providing increased opportunities for the public to visit and learn about historic properties related to maritime history.

“With the rich and vast maritime history in California, it is especially fortunate to offer this new grant opportunity to our partners as they work tirelessly to celebrate and commemorate our shared past,” said California’s state historic preservation officer, Julianne Polanco.

The maritime heritage grants program is designed to support various maritime heritage education and preservation projects that focus on three broad categories of historic maritime resources: historic maritime properties, maritime heritage collections and traditional maritime skills.

Grants are available to public agencies, nonprofit organizations and California Native American tribes for preservation or education/interpretation projects throughout the state, and will be required to be matched on a one-to-one basis.

Currently, there is funding for one round of grants, with applications due by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, November 12.

Grants are available in two categories:

Preservation Projects: $98,500 available, and subgrant award amounts may range from $10,000 to $50,000 (for total project costs of $20,000 to $100,000). An example of a previous NPS grant awardee under this category is Central Coast Lighthouse Keepers, which received a $25,000 grant in 1998 to assist in the preservation of the Point Sur Lighthouse’s lantern room and upper galley.

Education Projects: $224,415 available, with subgrant award amounts ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 (for total project costs of $10,000 to $80,000). Under this category, as an example, the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum received $35,000 in 2015 to fund the development of the Spirit of Dana Point Tall Ship Overnight Education Program.

A list of previously funded projects can be found on the NPS National Maritime Heritage Grants Program History website. OHP expects to award grants by March 1, 2025, with projects needing to be completed within two years.

To learn more about the California Maritime Heritage Grants program and to download forms and guidelines to apply, please visit the OHP website at ohp.parks.ca.gov/maritimegrants.

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California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DWB) is offering $1.4 million in grants to enhance recreational boating safety through on-the-water boating safety education to the public. The funding is available to local public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and colleges/universities operating within California.

Grants can be used to purchase boating equipment and supplies, provide student scholarships for on-the-water boating courses, and offset costs for boating instructor training and boating safety events.

The deadline to apply is Friday, October 25, at noon. Interested applicants should first review the FAQs listed on DBW’s website to determine if they meet the grantee eligibility requirements. Applications must be submitted through the division’s online grant application system. Grant recipients are anticipated to be awarded in early 2025.

DBW will rank and score each application based on its demonstration of the applicant’s ability to safely and effectively teach on-the-water boating safety courses and enhance boaters’ knowledge of boating laws, practical handling of vessels, weather and water conditions, and other boating-safety information.

The DBW administers this grant with funding from the federal Sport Fish Restoration program and the Boating Trust Fund Recreational Boating Safety Grant, which is managed by the United States Coast Guard.

Since the late 1970s, DBW has awarded nearly $30 million through this annual grant process to promote on-the-water safety education throughout California. On average, 35–40 recipients receive funding each year.

DBW hosts two in-person meetings with aquatic center directors each year to share information on submitting competitive grant applications. Meetings this year are in Berkeley on Sept. 25–26 and in San Diego on Oct. 8–9.

Detailed information regarding the Aquatic Center Education Program and other grants is available on DBW’s website.