Fresh Coast Maritime Challenge Grant Program

The Fresh Coast Maritime Challenge Grant Program is an initiative established by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME) in partnership with Traverse Connect, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the Michigan Office of Outdoor Recreation Industry, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The program aims to modernize and decarbonize maritime mobility across Michigan's waterways, electrify marinas, transition commercial and recreational watercraft from diesel to electric power, and create a scalable network of shore-side charging infrastructure that can serve as a model across North America.

Eligible applicants include commercial enterprises of all sizes, electric boat manufacturers, technology startups, and academic institutions. While open broadly to mobility innovators, priority and early adoption focus was directed toward the Northwest Michigan corridor between Frankfort and Mackinac Island to build out a contiguous electric boating corridor and support the regional Blue Economy.

Eligible projects encompass deploying marinized fast chargers at docks and public marinas, piloting zero-emission passenger ferries and commercial watercraft, conducting demonstrations and user-acceptance studies for high-performance electric propulsion systems, deploying accessible solar-powered recreational boats, and collaborating with local utilities to research grid capacity, optimal charging station distances, and marine electrification playbooks.

Applications were submitted through the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP). OFME and Traverse Connect coordinated applicant reviews and facilitated grant awards, supported by local and virtual information sessions for interested technology providers and marina operators.