Northwest Marine Trade Association awards Friday Harbor Power Squadron

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Submitted by the Northwest Marine Trade Association

The Northwest Marine Trade Association’s Grow Boating Grant Program has awarded $31,000 in funding to 18 boating programs in the Pacific Northwest, including Friday Harbor Power Squadron.

Over the past 17 years, the program has granted more than $2 million in funding to nonprofit groups or organizations that help boost the number of boaters and watercraft users and encourage boaters to use their boats more often. The Grow Boating Program is funded through a surcharge on square-footage rented during the Seattle Boat Show.

This year, 22 applicants submitted grant requests totaling more than $156,000. The Grow Boating Committee, made up of NMTA members, spent two months pouring over the requests.

“This year was filled with many qualified grant recipients,” said Mike Kirshenbaum, NMTA’s Grow Boating Committee chairman. “After much discussion and consideration, we are pleased to have completed the grant process and are again able to support great events, projects and organizations. We continue our commitment to members and our goal of increasing all aspects of on-water activities in the beautiful and diverse waters of the Pacific Northwest.”

The 2020 grantees represent recreational boating — everything from youth sailing organizations, towboat events and a collegiate bass fishing club to educational youth events and outreach programs.