Waterways Grant-in-Aid Program Grants

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Waterways Program Grants provide financial and technical assistance for engineering studies and infrastructure improvement projects at grant-in-aid harbors and public boating access sites, including state-sponsored harbor and mooring facilities.

Eligible applicants include local units of government (city, village, township, and county) and state colleges and universities. Local units and universities may cooperate with sports and community organizations in project implementation. Applicants submitting a harbor development project must have an approved Harbor/Marina Facilities 5-Year Recreation Plan (or amendment) through Grants Management approved by February 1, and must submit harbor logs and financial summaries for the preceding three years. Large projects require a completed preliminary engineering study and permit approval prior to grant consideration for construction. Grant requests offering more than the mandatory 50% match receive additional preference.

Eligible projects include preliminary engineering studies, design, and construction of infrastructure improvements at grant-in-aid harbors and public boating access sites. Harbor project plans must detail recreational plan elements such as facility size, marketing/events/partnering plans, dredging needs, dredging cycles, dredge volume, dredge disposal locations, infrastructure replacement schedules, annual maintenance schedules, and replacement or rehabilitation schedules for large investments.

Applications and all required supporting documentation must be submitted by April 1 at 5:00 p.m. (or the following Monday if April 1 falls on a weekend). DNR staff conducts a technical review of all applications. Beginning in 2026, applications are evaluated using specific scoring criteria for boating access site projects, engineering projects, and harbor development projects. Grant awards are finalized based on DNR review, prioritization, and legislative appropriations.