Aquatic Center Grant Program

Section 668.2 of the Harbors and Navigation Code allows DBW to distribute funding to local public agencies, nonprofit organizations, and colleges and universities operating within California.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to take advantage of the following resources.

• Set up a time to talk to Aquatic Center Grants Staff. Staff can discuss your program structure, focus, and funding needs to ensure that you qualify for possible funding and also to answer questions you may have about the application and grant process.
  
  
• Read all the minimum qualifications that are found on the DBW's OLGA site and discuss them with other members of your organization to ensure that your organization can comply with them.
  
  
• If the timing permits, consider attending one of DBW’s annual Aquatic Center Directors Meetings.
  
  
• For 501c(3) organizations, make sure that your organization’s CA Dept. of Justice charity registration is up to date and that you have “current” status.
  
  
• Register with the federal System of Award Management (SAM)
  
  
• Request a sample application from the previous year to review the questions. The application is not identical every year, but it will give you a good idea of what we ask applicants.
  
  
• Request the scoring rubric from the previous year’s application.

DBW opens the application period in the fall each year. During this period, dates and deadlines are posted on the DBW website. Please visit the website for updates since the application period can change.

DBW will consider awarding grant funds to public agencies, colleges, universities and non-profit organizations (501(c)(3) only) that can provide on-the-water programs for enhancing boating safety education. The grant process is competitive in nature. The organization must have a positive boating safety record, must have adequately trained staff and have a safe environment in which to teach.

In addition, ideal candidates for funding would have several of these attributes:

• Program goals that support DBW’s mission.
• Self-sufficient program that does not totally depend on DBW funding.
• Adequate permanent staff to ensure continuity of programming.
• Located in sites where boating is prevalent, but there are limited opportunities to receive boating education.
• Year-round courses where weather and water conditions permit.
• Comprehensive and cost-effective boating safety training courses for a large segment of the general public.
• Training for underserved populations.
• Basic boating safety education
• Safety training for boating activities associated with accidents.

The Aquatic Center Grant Program Manual includes grant management, as well as terms and conditions that must be followed. Online Grant Application (OLGA) information may be found by clicking the links in the left-hand column on this page.

After DBW receives an application for grant funds, it is reviewed to see how closely the applicant's program funding request aligns with the Aquatic Center Grant Program's goals and objectives. Usually a site visit is conducted in order to further evaluate the program. Only the most qualified applicants are granted funding.

If the application is approved, an agreement is sent to the grant recipient for signature, and then it is processed through DBW's Administrative Services Unit and signed by the Deputy Director. Additional approval occurs at the Department of General Services Office of Risk Insurance Management.

• If your organization applied in the past cycle and was not approved for funding, please consider requesting a grant application review where DBW’s grant staff can go over areas where you may have scored low or have a potential weakness.
  
  
• Take or repeat any of the steps in the “New Applicants” section

Vessels, and/or associated equipment that provide for boating safety education are eligible for grant funding. Examples include but are not limited to sailboats, trailers, water ski boats, canoes, kayaks, rafts, stand-up paddle boards, windsurfing equipment, boat engines, safety boats, and associated safety equipment, such as life jackets, radios, and wetsuits. Life jackets must be worn by all participants during any training paid for by grant funds or when using any vessels purchased with grant funds.

Additionally, applicants may apply for associated portable equipment such as storage sheds, equipment racks and portable docking systems.

Scholarships are available for basic non-competitive boating safety education. Scholarship funding can be used to lower the overall cost of a course in order to make it more affordable to all participants if it is estimated that the majority of people in an area cannot afford the actual tuition. Scholarship funding can also be used to partially or completely fund the tuition of individual students or specific groups of students such as school groups, outreach clubs, etc. Funding is available for disabled students as well.

There are both general terms and conditions that are required by all state agreements as well as specific terms and conditions that apply to this grant program that all organizations must be able to comply with in order to be considered for funding. These include

Exhibit B – Special Terms and Conditions
Exhibit B – Special Terms and Conditions (UC System)
Exhibit C – General Terms and Conditions
Exhibit C – General Terms and Conditions (UC System)
Prospective applicants should ensure that they can comply with both the general and specific terms and conditions.

After a grant is awarded, follow-up visits are periodically scheduled between the organization and DBW representatives. Such visits include a review of the program’s goals and inventory of the equipment purchased with DBW funds.

Additionally, the grantee shall ensure that the grant requirements are met such as attending one Aquatic Center Directors’ Meetings each year and completing an annual program report.

Reports are required from grantees receiving scholarship, training, and National Safe Boating Week funds each year they receive funding for the stated program requirements. For vessels, engines and other equipment purchased with grant funds, annual reports and inventory forms are required as long as the equipment remains in use or until it is approved by DBW to be sold and/or replaced.

No money is awarded upon approval of the grant; all funds are distributed through reimbursement only. Reimbursement requests must be submitted in accordance with the specific terms and conditions and must be accompanied by proof of payment. Purchase orders from manufactures/dealers will not be accepted in place of invoices when requesting reimbursement from DBW.
The length of time to receive reimbursement varies. Grantees should ensure that they carefully follow the billing instructions to ensure maximum speed of payment. Once the correctly completed request for payment leaves DBW, it goes to the DPR Accounting Unit and then to the California State Controller’s Office where the actual check is processed and mailed to the grantee. This process generally takes six weeks to complete if all documentation is in place. Programs without sufficient funds to cover payments while waiting for reimbursement should not apply for grant funding.