The completion of your newly built or renovated boat launching facility is the perfect opportunity for you to educate candidates and elected officials about your project, including what funds were used to construct the facility, where that money was spent and the total cost of the project. It also is a good time to show them the launching site’s usefulness to the community. You will want to customize the following Sample Letter to Elected Officials based on your particular situation and to your audience, such as local, state and federal officials. Remember to use your letterhead and date your correspondence! ________________________________________________________ Dear [name of elected official]: I would like to share our good news with you – [name of your boat launching facility] was recently [constructed/renovated] with funding from the Wallop-Breaux Aquatic Resources Trust Fund and now is fully operational. Our immediate success is obvious in the number of community members who already have used our new boat launching facility and in the compliments we have received. [Insert here all appropriate thanks to the elected official if the elected official helped secure the public funding that was used in the construction or rehabilitation of your boat launching facility. It would be helpful to also include specifics on the funding as well as financial data, such as the total project cost and what percent was funded with public money.] [This would be a good place to boast about the particulars of your new boat launching facility, such as how many lanes it offers; restrooms and other amenities available there; how much parking is available; and other pertinent details.] [You may want to invite the elected official to visit your boat launching facility. If so, include specifics here.] [Close with thanking the elected official for his/her support.] Sincerely, [your name]