Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Multifamily Housing Program (DR-MHP) Round One

The California State Parks Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) administers the Aquatic Center Grant Program as part of its broader mission to promote safe and enjoyable recreational boating across the state. DBW focuses on education, safety, and environmental stewardship through targeted grantmaking that supports on-the-water training and related safety programming. The Aquatic Center Grant Program specifically funds organizations that offer hands-on boating education to enhance public understanding and application of California boating laws, vessel handling, water conditions, safety equipment usage, and environmental responsibilities. This grant is available to local public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and colleges and universities operating in California. Funding is intended to support aquatic centers that provide boating safety education programs directly on the water. These centers play a critical role in ensuring that new and existing boaters are well-informed, prepared, and capable of navigating California’s diverse waterways safely. The program aims to create a consistent and robust learning environment for boaters of all experience levels, improving public safety outcomes and supporting responsible recreation. Eligible expenditures under this program include but are not limited to boats and boating equipment, instructional safety gear, boating safety outreach materials, and certain operational costs directly related to boating safety training. Specific funding priorities and allowable requests are further detailed in supplemental documents accessible through the Online Grant Application System (OLGA), which all applicants must use to submit their materials. The program encourages participation from organizations with strong community outreach, experienced instructional staff, and the ability to demonstrate positive safety impacts through their programming. For the 2025–2026 grant cycle, the application period is currently open and will close at noon on October 24, 2025. All interested applicants must apply via OLGA and are advised to consult available guidance materials such as the scoring rubric, sample application, and application tips to improve the quality and competitiveness of their submissions. No pre-application steps or letters of intent are required, and applications can be submitted immediately up until the posted deadline. Webinars and support materials are available but are not mandatory. While the announcement does not specify total program funding or individual award sizes, past cycles have typically supported a range of applicants across the state. Applicants are advised to tailor their requests based on the scope of their programming and alignment with DBW’s funding priorities. Recipients from previous years are publicly listed, and participation in the annual Aquatic Center Directors' Meeting is strongly encouraged. This meeting, held each fall in Northern and Southern California, allows for peer exchange, updates on program priorities, and networking. The primary point of contact for this grant is Amy Rigby, who can be reached at amy.rigby@parks.ca.gov or by phone at (916) 902-8798. The program is managed entirely within California and is not available to applicants outside the state. All application materials must be submitted online, and no paper applications will be accepted.

Applicants are encouraged to review scoring explanations, align proposals with funding priorities, and attend the Aquatic Center Directors' Meetings for guidance.