b'NEWSWIRE NEWSWIRENEWSWIRE Please Respond to NationalPVF Census of Ferry Operators Educational Scholarship T he National Census of Ferry Opera- has additional information about this yearsGrants tors is underway. Its important thatcensus. Read it here. every member of the Passenger Vessel AssociationthatoperatesferriespromptlyBTS traditionally conducts the census everyApplications participates because this census provides thetwo years. Had that schedule been adhered to, most comprehensive snapshot of ferry trans- the survey would have been done last year, seek- Deadlineportation in the United States. ing 2021 data. However, BTS took a hiatus for a year because the 2021 data would have been Early this month, the U.S. DOTs Bureau ofskewed, since many ferry operators ridershipis June 30TransportationStatistics(BTS)contactedwas still depressed as a result of the pandemic.each U.S. ferry operator by email, as well as by a letter in surface mail. As was done previously, the census is to be Thecurrentsurveyseeksstatisticalinfor- conducted online. If you have not receivedT he application window is now open an email communication from BTS, pleaseforthePassengerVesselFoundation mation about ferry operations in calendarcontact ferry@dot.gov for log-in information.(PVF)scholarshipprogram.This year2022.EachoperatorisrequestedtoYou can also call 1-800-853-1351 for infor- programofferspassengervesselemployees provide information about basic operation- mation and help. Clara Reschovsky of BTSfinancialassistanceforeducationtofurther alcharacteristics,passengersandvehicles(clara.reschovsky@dot.gov or 202-768-4994)theircareersintheindustry.Ifthereare carried,vessels,terminals,androutes.Seemanages the census; she made a well-receivedindividuals in your organization who would information collected in previous censuses atpresentation at the PVA Annual Conventionbenefit from financial assistance as they work bts.gov/NCFO. The April issue of Foghornat MariTrends 2023 in Long Beach, Calif. toward educational goals to boost their career, encouragethemtoapplyforascholarship grant sponsored by PVF. The deadline to apply is June 30, but early NEWSWIRE submission is encouraged. Click here to apply. FTA Offers CompetitiveApplying is a two-step process which requires information from both the individual apply-Ferry Grants ing for the grant and their supervisor.Todate,thePassengerVesselFoundation has awarded nearly $320,000 in educational T wo competitive ferry grant programsas well as public agencies that provide ferrygrants to persons who are pursuing education oftheFederalTransitAdministra- serviceinurbanareasthatareeligibletotowards supporting or working in the com-tion (FTA) are now open for pro- bedirectrecipientsofUrbanizedAreamercialpassengervesselindustry.ThePVF posals. The deadline to submit proposals forFormula Grants. scholarshipprogrampromotesprofessional-each program is July 17, 2023. ism, safety, and opportunity within the field The second program is known as the Ferryfor those individuals currently employed by The first program is the FTA Passenger FerryService for Rural Communities program. Inpassenger vessel operators. Grants are award-Program.Grantfundingisavailableforthis funding round, $170 million is availableedwithafocusoneducationalassistance, capital projects to buy, replace, or modernizefor distribution. It will be used to supportresearch,training,andtheimprovementof passenger ferry vessels (including those thatcapital, planning, and operating assistance tosafety within the maritime industry.carry both passengers and vehicles), termi- support or expand ferry service for rural areas. nals, and related equipment. In this fundingTo be eligible to apply, a ferry system must round, $50.1 is available. Of this amount, $5have at least one route connecting two rural million is set aside for low- or no-emissionareas that are at least 20 nautical miles apart.ferries and related facilities and equipment.For more information about each program Eligible applicants are designated recipientswith instructions as to how to submit an of the FTA Urbanized Area Formula Grants,application, click here.FOGHORN 44'