The city of Ironton’s application for a $800,000 Cooperative Boating Facility Grant for boat ramp construction at the riverfront was not selected by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

In a letter from ODNR division of watercraft section administrator Mathew Repasky to Ironton Mayor Rich Blankenship, Repasky wrote that 26 applications were received totaling more than $8 million. Of those 26, however, only 16 were funded totaling approximately $3 million.

“I’m not convinced we won’t get it eventually,” Blankenship said. “We will re-apply this year for 2016; we will be persistent.”

ODNR has not allocated any funding for the grant in 2015.

“The desire of our recreational boating partners exceeds the funding available in this grant cycle,” Rebasky wrote. “I hope you will consider applying for these funds in the future.”

Blankenship said it’s not uncommon to apply for grants multiple times.

“I had to apply for the Big P grant twice,” Blankenship said. “I will just keep trying.”

The $630,000 Big P grant will be used to construct a marina at the riverfront.