Sarasota Bay Estuary Program Announces Recipients of 2014 Bay Partners Grant Program

SARASOTA – The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) has awarded grants to eight local organizations as part of the 2014 Bay Partners Grant Program. The fully-funded projects include Anna Maria Island Sail and Power Squadron, Bayshore High School, Friends of Florida Maritime Museum, Sarasota Bay Watch, and the Science and Environment Council of Southwest Florida. The partially-funded projects include Natures Academy, Save Our Seabirds and Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

The purpose of the Bay Partners Grant Program is to promote environmental education, awareness, community involvement, and stewardship to improve the overall quality of Sarasota Bay and its tributaries. To support these goals, funding is available from SBEP for projects that focus on Bay Education, Bay Restoration or Bay-Friendly Landscaping.

The SBEP has awarded nearly $247,000 in Bay Partners Grants to support 126 organizations since 2003. A subcommittee with the SBEP Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) selects the recipients. The next deadline for submitting grant applications is March 2, 2015.