Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting grant applications for a new grant program aimed at helping local units of government improve the safety of public swimming pool outlets and drainage systems.

Priority for grants will be given to projects that involve installing a secondary suction or drainage outlet for public pools where a fee is not charged for the use of the pool.

A total of $50,000 is available to distribute. Local units of government may apply for a maximum of 75 percent of the total eligible project costs, with a maximum grant not to exceed $10,000. Applicants must be able to fund at least 25 percent of the total project costs.
Costs must be incurred and paid for before reimbursement can be made.
The application deadline is Aug. 31. Grant awards will be announced in the fall of 2008. All work must be completed no later than June 30, 2009.

Funding for these grants was included in the “Abigail Taylor Pool Safety Act,” passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Pawlenty earlier this year. The act was named in honor of 6-year-old Abigail Taylor who was fatally injured in a wading pool drain accident in 2007.

More information and an application are available on the DNR Web site at www.mndnr.gov.