Parks and Recreation Trust Fund awarded $500,000 Friday to Emerald Isle toward its project of acquiring land for a new boat launch facility on Bogue Sound.

“It was great news for the town this past Friday,” Frank Rush, town manager, said. “That’s a real critical grant for the town and will enable us to go forward with plans for the boat ramp.

“Ultimately, the site’s going to be developed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and will be the largest boat launch facility on the coast.”

Swansboro was also awarded $500,000 through the PARTF grant program on Friday. The money will be used to build a recreation complex. (See related story.)

Emerald Isle’s good news comes on the heels of a decision by the Carteret County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 17 to give $1 million toward the project. NCWRC and the N.C. Division of Coastal Management have already awarded grants.

“From four different grant sources, plus the county and the town’s contribution, we’ve raised about $3.7 million for the land purchase,” Rush said. Of that, $3.2 million is from non-town resources.

Another $500,000 is expected to be awarded by the N.C. Marine Resources Fund in March, according to estimates Rush received from the NC Division of Marine Fisheries.

“That’s the last pending grant that we’re waiting on,” Rush said. The grant is funded by proceeds from issued saltwater fishing licenses.

The total land purchase will cost $4.25 million, part of which will be due when the town closes on four of the seven lots that comprise the property Sept. 1.