RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says grants are being made available to help Virginia localities develop boating access facilities or renovate existing ones.

Recreational boating is a popular activity and there are about 250,000 registered boats in Virginia. Officials say many more boats that are not registered use existing facilities or are in need of additional sites.

This grant program provides up to 75 percent of the project costs. Applications are due by Oct. 1 and grant awards are anticipated by Jan. 1, 2015.

Over the past two years, the department says it has awarded more than $572,000 to 14 localities for the development or renovation of 18 sites on 12 different river systems.

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