VICTORIA -- The B.C. government is making $9.5 million in grants available for groups and local governments to use for coastal clean up projects. The fund is intended to support local governments, coastal First Nations and non-profit groups in removing marine debris from B.C.’s coastlines. Any organization that falls under one of those aforementioned groups can apply to B.C. to receive some of the $9.5 million in funding. Applications for the funding, under B.C.’s Clean Coast, Clean Waters Initiative Fund, will open from Jan. 4 to Feb. 15. Groups applying for funding must have clean up projects in mind that can be started by March 31 and completed by Dec. 31, 2021.