The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) has announced the Erie Access Improvement Grant Program to assist non-profit and government organizations in the acquisition and development of angler access and the protection and improvement of fish habitat in the Erie watershed.
Donor Name: Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
State: Pennsylvania
Counties: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/30/2023
Details:
Applicants may seek grants for site acquisition, access development, expansion, rehabilitation, and other types of projects that benefit recreational fishing and public fishing access on Lake Erie or its tributaries. Projects to rehabilitate existing access sites, such as construction of access roads and parking lots, or projects that bring facilities into ADA compliance are also eligible for funding. Habitat projects, fisheries research, and the development of fish cleaning stations may also qualify.
Government entities and other nonprofit, sporting, conservation and watershed organizations as well as Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)-designated State Heritage Areas may identify acquisition and development needs in the Erie watershed and request Commission funding to assist in addressing these needs. Eligible projects include acquisition of lands and property rights including public fishing easements, and/or development of lands to improve and/or maintain angler access.
Eligible Project Activities
- In general, grant funds may be used for fee simple acquisitions and public fishing and boating access and conservation easements, project design and engineering, development, expansion and major rehabilitation of public recreational fishing and/or boat access facilities. Grant funds are to be used only for major site improvements related to providing fishing and boating access and not for any routine maintenance or operation activities.
- Eligible construction activities and facilities for new, expansion and upgrade of existing facilities include but are not limited to boat ramps, courtesy floats, access roads, parking areas, landscaping related to the boat launch facility, transient tie-up floats, labor, materials, safety equipment (buoys, etc.), docks, fishing piers, fish cleaning stations, habitat projects, fisheries research, accesstrails and signs. Activities must benefit and directly support recreational fishing or boating; for example, picnic facilities and bike racks are not eligible costs.
- Eligible construction projects must occur on lands owned in “fee simple” by the project sponsor or where ownership is less than fee simple interest, ownership rights must provide for control of the property commensurate with the proposed development. The project sponsor must have title or adequate control and tenure of the project area in order to provide reasonable assurance that a conversion of use will not occur without Commission approval. All capital improvements made on land leased to the project sponsor must have lease terms at least twenty-five (25) years in length to ensure a conversion to any other use in that period will not occur. The Commission will require proof of ownership that may include Certificate of Title and/or copies of the lease at the time of application.
- Eligible acquisition costs include purchase price; associated legal, recording, and settlement costs; title search and title insurance; environmental assessments; appraisals; GIS mapping and surveying; and signage. Appraisals must be conducted by a state certified general real estate appraiser. Environmental Assessments must meet American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Costs incurred by the applicant prior to approval and necessary for meeting application requirements for appraisals, surveys, title search, and environmental assessments may be included in the total project cost. These costs will only be reimbursed if a grant is awarded to the applicant.
- All fee simple property acquired by applicants with Commission assistance must be dedicated for public use by recreational boaters and anglers and maintained by the recipient. As a condition of funding, a perpetual public fishing and boating access and conservation easement on the stream corridor will be required by the Commission on properties acquired with Statewide Public Access Grant Program funds. The easement may be held by the Commission or an entity deemed qualified by the Commission.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible grant applicants are public entities including municipal and county governments, land trusts, conservancies, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)- designated State Heritage Areas, qualifying organizations (501(c)(3) organizations) and trail and watershed associations that have, or will have, the capability to provide fishing or boat access facilities that are open and available for general public use. NOTE: Non-profit or not-for-profit organizations, schools, and service clubs are not eligible for direct funding under the Commission’s Boating Facility Grant Program. Such organizations must apply through their local government or another eligible applicant for funding. Land trusts, conservancies, State Heritage Areas, and trail and watershed associations must also meet the following requirements:
- The organization’s bylaws must indicate that its charitable purpose includes the preservation, conservation, or management of critical habitat, open space, watersheds, rivers and streams, or natural areas for public benefit.
- The organization must be incorporated as a non-profit organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Corporations Bureau.
- The organization must be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
- The organization must be registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Charitable Organizations.
- The organization must have been in existence at least five (5) consecutive years.
- For acquisition projects, the organization must have demonstrated experience in acquiring property
For more information, visit PFBC.
