U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program

Boating Infrastructure Grant Program - Overview

About
The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) provides grant funds to the states, the District of Columbia and insular areas to construct, renovate, and maintain tie-up facilities with features for transient boaters in vessels 26 feet or more in length, and to produce and distribute information and educational materials about the program.

The governmental agency designated by each respective governor is eligible to participate in the BIG Program. The governmental agency may partner with local governments, private marinas and others to fund eligible projects.

The BIG Program includes two funding tiers, Tier One (non-competitive) and Tier Two (nationally competitive). Under Tier One each state, the D.C. and insular area may receive funding for eligible projects up to $100,000 annually. Tier Two funds are made available through a nationally competitive process. Tier Two proposals received are reviewed, evaluated and ranked by a national panel with the final decision for funding made by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The ranking criteria, eligible projects and regulations are listed in 50 CFR 86.

Learn more about Boating Infrastructure Grant Program accomplishments.

Source of Funds
Funds for the BIG Program are provided annually from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The amount provided is 2% of the funds in the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund after deducting amounts for WSFR administration, the Multistate Conservation Grant Program, the Sport Fishing and Boating Partnership Council and fisheries commissions.

The funds deposited into the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund are derived from excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels, import duties, and interest on the fund.

Grants
States, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Insular Areas designated agencies may apply for grants by contacting the specific WSFR Office or apply online at grants.gov. Additional application information may be found on Boating Infrastructure Grant Program - Funding.

Grant funds are competitively disbursed to States, D.C., Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands for approved grants on a reimbursement basis for up to 75% of the project costs. The Service waives the first $200,000 in matching requirements for the insular areas of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

However, applicants are encouraged to provide more than the minimum cost share required as the cost share percentage is a factor used in ranking Tier Two proposals.