Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Tier 1 | Apply Online

Opportunity Summary:

The Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program, Tier 1 is a discretionary federal grant opportunity administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to help states expand and maintain boating facilities that serve larger recreational vessels. The program is built around the reality that recreational boating is widespread in the United States, with roughly 13 million registered boats nationwide, including an estimated 600,000 vessels that are 26 feet or longer and considered nontrailerable. Because these boats typically travel from port to port and rely on short-term access to docks, slips, and related amenities, BIG targets infrastructure that supports transient use rather than long-term moorage. The core purpose is to improve the availability, safety, and functionality of boating destinations for these larger recreational boaters, while ensuring the public can access any facility improved with federal funds.

Funding through BIG Tier 1 can be used to construct, renovate, and maintain boating infrastructure facilities that support transient, nontrailerable recreational vessels 26 feet in length or longer. Projects may take place at publicly or privately owned sites, but a key condition is that states must ensure public access to the federally funded facilities. In practice, that means the improvements cannot be restricted to a closed membership or otherwise limited in a way that undermines general public use by eligible boaters. BIG is positioned as a state-focused program: state governments are the eligible applicants and can typically partner with local governments, port authorities, marina operators, or other entities to deliver the on-the-ground improvements, as long as the state remains the applicant and the public access requirement is met.

The opportunity highlights a wide range of potentially eligible project elements, reflecting the practical needs of transient boaters and the safety requirements of navigating and docking larger vessels. Examples include mooring buoys; day docks that allow short tie-ups without overnight stays; navigational aids such as channel markers and buoys; transient slips intended for stays of no more than 10 consecutive days; and safe harbor features that offer protection and refuge during storms or hazardous conditions. Structural and access components such as floating docks, fixed piers, breakwaters (floating or fixed), dinghy docks used for shore access, and shoreline stabilization features like retaining walls and bulkheads are also identified as potentially eligible. The program also recognizes the importance of basic services and environmental protection measures at boating destinations, listing restrooms, dockside utilities, pumpout stations, recycling and trash receptacles, dockside electricity and water, pay telephones, debris deflection booms, marine fueling stations, and one-time dredging as examples of activities that may qualify. Additional details, including the specific boundaries of eligibility and application requirements, are governed by the BIG regulations at 50 CFR 86.

From a funding and administrative standpoint, this Tier 1 solicitation (Funding Opportunity Number FWS-BIG-11-T1) anticipated making about 45 awards with an estimated total funding amount of $4,000,000. Individual awards could be up to $100,000, with no stated minimum award amount. The program requires cost sharing or matching, meaning states must provide non-federal match consistent with the program rules. The assistance listing is associated with CFDA 15.622 under the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act, and the activity categories are described as Community Development and Transportation, reflecting how boating access and transient dockage supports both recreation and local waterfront economies.

Key dates for the posted opportunity include a posted date of May 17, 2010, with an application deadline (current and original closing date) of September 22, 2010, and an archive date of October 22, 2010. For applicant support, the notice provides a point of contact at the Fish and Wildlife Service: Christy Vigfusson, Biologist - Grants, reachable by phone at 703-358-1748, particularly for issues accessing the full announcement electronically.

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