It's been more than seven years since the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was signed into law, and the federal government still wants to hand out money to help implement the measure.
Free money for municipalities with pools? What' the catch? None. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has $1 million in grants for qualifying local and state governments.
The CPSC announced last year that it was widening its application process for grant money available through the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act to include local municipalities and not only states.
In 2010, no states applied
for the federal grant money, which required laws to be in place
requiring particular barriers and entrapment-prevention measures on all
new and existing pools and spas before application. No states were
eligible.
But now, the language has been struck requiring retroactive enforcement.
Recipients will have to divide grant money evenly between enforcement and safety education.
State and local governments, Native American tribal governments or U.S. territories that have enacted or amended laws that meet the requirements of the Pool and Spa Safety Act are eligible to apply.
To apply, visit Grants.gov and use CPSC-15-001 to find the open grant opportunity. The deadline for application is March 19, 2015.
