DNR Receives Competitive Federal Grant To Expand Chestertown Marina

CHESTERTOWN, MD - The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently received a $405,000 competitive grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to expand boating opportunities in Maryland.

“Recreational boating not only benefits our local economy, but also enables people to enjoy our treasured rivers and Chesapeake Bay,” said Bob Gaudette, DNR Boating Services Director. “We hope that our partnership with Chestertown Marina to expand boating opportunities encourages more people to get out on the water.”

DNR, in cooperation with Chestertown Marina, plans to match the federal grant with more than $225,000 to construct 25 slips for visiting boaters with dockside utilities at the Kent County facility. Project completion is scheduled for spring of 2009.

Maryland was one of 15 states who received a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) to help fund construction of docks, boat slips and other facilities to support recreational boating. Funding for the BIG program comes from the Sport Fishing and Boating Trust Fund, formerly known as the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, which is supported by excise taxes on certain fishing and boating equipment and boat fuels.