PORT CLINTON — The Put-in-Bay Community Swim & Sail Program in Ottawa County is receiving a $20,000 boating education grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and Sandusky Junior Sailors Inc. in Erie County is getting a $40,700 grant.

The money will be used by the former to help purchase a new coach sailboat for instruction purposes. Sandusky Junior Sailors will use its money to repair a safety boat, develop marketing materials, cover insurance costs, and provide instructor certification training, the state agency said.

The two groups were among 14 identified in a news release as grant recipients. Nearly $150,000 of the $350,000 awarded statewide is being shared by four groups in Cuyahoga County alone.

“By supporting programs that promote boating safety and water recreation, we are ensuring that all Ohioans have the opportunity to learn safe and responsible boating practices that will last a lifetime,” Ohio DNR Director Mary Mertz said.

The grants are funded by Ohio’s Waterways Safety Fund, which is comprised of a share of the state motor fuel tax, watercraft registration and titling fees, and funding from the U.S. Coast Guard.

First Published January 22, 2025, 10:09 p.m.