Marine Safety Grants

The goal of the Marine Safety Grants program is to promote safety in the use of recreational watercraft through law enforcement and education. Grant funding is made available to county sheriff departments within the state of Michigan. Awards are dependent on factors such as the area of public waters to be patrolled, the number of law enforcement personnel available for marine patrol, the number of boat livery inspections to be conducted, and the extent of the county's boating safety education program. Total marine safety program expenditures and past operating grant histories are also considered. Eligible projects include expenses applied to patrol time and law enforcement work, instruction of boating safety classes, administering proctored boating safety exams for approved on-line safety courses, inspection of boat liveries, operating costs, and purchase of equipment necessary for patrol and law enforcement work. To apply, grant applications are made available in January each year and must be submitted electronically in the MiGrants system by March 1. The department then reviews, evaluates, and approves funding to counties, prepares grant agreements, and notifies each county of their approved grant.