Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program

The Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program (MLAP) was established to assist in the preservation, rehabilitation, and protection of historic lighthouses across Michigan. Administered by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) within the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and funded through the sale of the state's specialty 'Save Our Lights' vehicle license plate, the program provides competitive matching grants to support the stewardship and long-term sustainability of historic maritime icons.

Eligible applicants are nonprofit organizations and governmental units that own, are acquiring, or hold long-term leases (minimum of 10 years) on historic light stations. Private individuals are ineligible. Applicants must demonstrate the financial capacity to fund 100% of project costs upfront, possess an adequate accounting system with internal controls, and resolve any outstanding grant compliance requirements. Grantees are limited to a maximum of two open MLAP projects simultaneously (one planning and one rehabilitation).

Eligible projects focus on light stations listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Funding supports planning projects (such as Historic Structure Reports, Condition Assessment Reports, and construction documents prepared by professionals meeting 36 CFR Part 61 qualifications) and physical rehabilitation projects (such as masonry repairs, painting, and window restoration). Eligible work may also include historic Fresnel lens evaluation, repair, or replacement, as well as adjacent historic lifesaving station resources. All physical rehabilitation work must comply with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and requires the execution and recording of a historic preservation easement.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to consult with SHPO staff prior to application submission. Completed applications must include project descriptions, detailed budgets, work schedules, financial certifications, deed/lease documentation, photographs, authorized governing body resolutions, and corporate documents. Applications are submitted electronically via email to SHPO and are competitively evaluated based on urgency/threat, project readiness, impact on the resource, budget feasibility, match commitment, administrative capacity, and adherence to preservation standards.