Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program

Purpose: The Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program (MLAP) provides competitive matching grants to assist in the preservation, rehabilitation, and protection of historic Michigan lighthouses. Funded by sales of the state Save Our Lights specialty license plate and administered by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the program helps lighthouse stewards address critical repairs and planning needs so these icons remain part of Michigan's cultural and tourism heritage. Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations and governmental units that own, are acquiring, or hold a long-term lease (minimum 10 years) on a lighthouse may apply; private individuals are ineligible. The light station must be listed in or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. For Fresnel lens projects, work must be performed by a qualified Coast Guard lampist; for rehabilitation or stabilization projects, the grantee must agree to execute a historic preservation easement. Offshore lights must document an EGLE offshore bottomlands agreement, and applicants may hold no more than two open MLAP grants concurrently (one planning and one rehabilitation). Project eligibility: Grants fund planning (e.g., Historic Structure Reports, condition assessments, plans and specifications, construction administration) and bricks-and-mortar rehabilitation (e.g., masonry repair, exterior painting, replacement of missing features) that meet the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. Fresnel lens planning, rehabilitation, or eligible replacement may be funded under specified conditions; non-historic display/interpretive features are not eligible. Application process: SHPO encourages applicants to consult staff while developing proposals. Applications must follow the MLAP Grant Manual and be submitted as a single PDF via email to HigginsS3@michigan.gov by 5:00 PM on 11/21/2025. Applications are competitively scored; awards are anticipated in Spring 2026. Grants are reimbursement-based and typically run Summer 2026 through 09/30/2027, with procurement, reporting, and closeout requirements outlined in the manual.