Boating Infrastructure Grants

Goal/purpose: The 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 to accommodate transient recreational vessels 26 feet or greater in length.

Additional applicant eligibility criteria: All publicly owned harbors must have an approved Harbor/Marina Facilities 5-Year Recreation Plan (or amendment) through Grants Management by February 1. The plan must include descriptions of facility size, marketing/events/partnering plans, dredging needs, and infrastructure replacement schedules. Applicants must also provide the last 3 years of harbor traffic logs and financial summaries.

Project eligibility: Facilities constructed under this program must be used only by boats 26 feet or greater in length, used by transient boaters (not at their home port and staying not more than 14 consecutive days), and open to the public. No commercial uses or seasonal slips are allowed. The facility must continue to be used for its original stated grant purpose and maintained throughout its useful life, defined by the DNR as 20 years. Only harbor engineering and infrastructure components are eligible items.

Application process: The grant application initial review and funding process begins April 1. Applicants must submit the DNR Waterways BIGP application to the DNR Parks and Recreation Division, Waterways Grant Coordinator by April 1 at 5 p.m. DNR staff conducts a technical review. If approved to proceed, the applicant will be asked to develop and complete a proposal and associated federal forms to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by the end of September. Grant review is completed throughout the winter by the USFWS, with awarding the following spring.