Boating Infrastructure Grants

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service Boating Infrastructure Grant Program is a nationally advertised grant program offered through the DNR Parks and Recreation Division's Waterways Program. It provides funding for infrastructure improvements at harbors throughout the state of Michigan. Eligible applicants must provide the last 3 years of harbor traffic logs and financial summaries. Publicly owned harbors must have an approved Harbor/Marina Facilities 5-Year Recreation Plan by February 1. Facilities constructed under this program must be used only by boats 26 feet or greater in length, used by transient boaters (staying not more than 14 consecutive days), open to the public, have no commercial uses or seasonal slips, and be maintained throughout their useful life (20 years). Only harbor engineering and infrastructure components are eligible items. The application process begins with an initial review on April 1. Applicants submit a DNR Waterways BIGP application to the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. If approved to proceed, applicants develop a proposal and federal forms to the USFWS by September. Grant review is completed in winter, and awards are made the following spring.