What Is the Boating Infrastructure Grant?

The Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program provides states, nonprofits and marinas with funding to expand, improve and protect short-term tourist docking. This grant allows grantees to offer amenities and safe docking to boaters, encouraging them to visit and spend money in the area.

Are you interested in applying for funding through the BIG program to create a safe and enjoyable dock for boaters? Keep reading to learn more about the program’s purpose, how to apply and what funding opportunities it offers.

What Is the Purpose of the Boating Infrastructure Grant?

The BIG program, established in 1998, is designed to help grow waterfront community economies through tourism. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) manages the BIG program, which allows marinas, states and nonprofit organizations to apply for funding to create, improve and maintain docking for transient boaters.

This program aims to accommodate non-trailerable boats that are at least 26 feet long, such as large cruising boats and recreational motorboats. It offers moorage and easier access to cultural, scenic, recreational, historic and natural resources for tourists. 

The grant’s funds have expanded water-based recreation and boating opportunities for local economies. Both communities and tourists experience many benefits from the projects that use BIG funding, including:

• Promoting recreational boating benefits to the economy.
• Providing tourists with continuous access to coastal towns.
• Boosting boating opportunity awareness.
• Encouraging entrepreneurial opportunities and public or private partnerships.
• Bolstering ties between local communities, marine manufacturers and guest boaters.
• Providing tourist boaters with safe docking areas.

Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Eligibility Requirements

The BIG program offers grants to a wide range of potential applicants, including local and state government agencies, qualified public and private marina operators, and nonprofits involved in recreational boating. Native American tribes and special purpose districts can also apply.

While grant applications are open to a broad pool of applicants, the projects that can use the funding have more specific requirements. If you’re applying for funding, your application must align with one of the following requests to be eligible:

• Renovate, construct or maintain a public-access, municipally owned boating facility on navigable waters. The constructed or renovated facility must last at least 20 years, accommodate transient, non-trailerable recreational vessels, and provide them with security and servicing.
• Fund pre-award costs like conducting appraisals, surveying the site and preparing construction plans. This request must be made while applying. If not approved, the applicant is responsible for the costs.
• Provide safe access for eligible vessels by dredging navigable waters to a safe depth. This funding is limited to $200,000.
• Fund grant administration.
• Produce educational and informational literature like brochures, charts and guides.
• Install navigational aids like beacons and buoys to help transient vessels pass safely between open water, maintained channels and the facility.

How Do You Apply for the Boating Infrastructure Grant Program?

Applying for the BIG is a straightforward process.

1. Head to your local or state government or boating agency website and search for the Boating Infrastructure Grant.
2. Check the application deadline for your state.
3. Confirm your and your project’s eligibility by looking through the program guidelines.
4. Click the “apply” button and fill out the application form. You’ll need to list information such as your partnerships, project summary and general facility information.
5. Attach all the necessary documentation and submit them along with the form to your local authority.

What Funding Opportunities Are Available?

The program’s funding comes from excise motorboat fuel, imports, fishing, small engines, tackle, and equipment taxes paid by anglers and boaters. The money can be used for various features designed to offer transient boaters a place to stopover and tie up, such as durable polyethylene floating docks, long-lasting boat ports or dockside utilities.

The BIG program offers grant support through two tiers:

• Tier 1: This tier is focused on supplying funding for smaller projects, with a maximum federal amount of $300,000 per recipient.
• Tier 2: This tier is nationally competitive, providing funding of up to $1.5 million per application.

What Are the Responsibilities of Qualifying Parties?

Grant recipients are responsible for providing at least 25% of the resources required for project completion, such as donations, agency labor and bond issues. Once the grant recipient provides documentation verifying the money spent on the project, the relevant state office will reimburse the grant recipient from the remaining BIG funding.

The grant recipient is then responsible for completing the project according to the program guidelines, making sure to do the following:

• Use grant funds within three fiscal years of receiving them.
• Arrange an on-site inspection of the project by the program administrator.
• Submit a request for itemized payment and the Grantee Certification form upon approval.
• Submit the final report, grantee certification for payment and close-out once they complete the project.
• Incur any cost overruns on their project.
• Provide signage acknowledging the USFWS, Sport Fish Restoration and the relevant state office.
• Maintain and operate the facility and submit relevant reports relating to it.
• Keep all relevant project documentation and accounting records for six years after its completion for auditing purposes.
• Ensure eligible vessels and the public can access the facility.

Why Should You Work With EZ Dock?

If you want to build durable and cost-effective floating dock walkways, docks, ports or launches for transient vessels, EZ Dock is the solution. Our docks are durable, customizable, accessible and require minimal maintenance.

Here’s how EZ Dock products can benefit your BIG project:

• Durability: We use marine-grade polyethylene and rotomolding processes to create strong and durable floating platforms. We put our docks through rigorous testing to ensure they can withstand extreme weather conditions, maintain structural integrity and last for decades with proper care.
• Low maintenance: EZ Dock products are made with premium materials that are rust-, crack-, fade-, peel- and heat-resistant, meaning maintenance is minimal. With simple cleaning, they retain their structural integrity and appearance for years.
• Customizable: EZ Dock uses a modular system, allowing you to reconfigure and expand as needed. Our designs accommodate your space and budget, whether you want a customized dock system or full configurations.
• Accessible: We make a range of products that are Americans with Disabilities Act accessible. Our docks are slip-resistant, and we offer accessibility features like handrails, grab bars and wide platforms. You can also easily configure our products to meet U.S. Access Board Regulatory guidelines.

Build Durable Docks With EZ Dock

EZ Dock has over 30 years of experience creating durable, accessible and low-maintenance docks across the U.S. Our products can weather the test of time, and their accessibility can appeal to a wide range of visiting boaters in your community. We use strong, slip-resistant and maintenance-free polyethylene to craft our docks.

Do you want to build comfortable and durable docking systems for transient vessels? Contact us now to learn more about our products or request a dock quote to include alongside other estimates in your BIG application.