Boating Facilities Program Grant

The Boating Facilities Program, established in 1964, offers grants for the acquisition, development, and renovation of facilities for motorized boats and watercraft. Eligible projects include boat launches, guest moorage, and support amenities, with funding of up to $1 million for various project types. Local agencies and tribes must provide a 25% match, while state applicants are exempt. A comprehensive recreation or conservation plan is required to apply, ensuring sustainable development of recreational facilities.

NOTE: Plan Due- A comprehensive plan is required to be eligible for a grant. This is represented by Pre-proposal deadline above.
Created in 1964, the Boating Facilities Program provides grants to acquire, develop, and renovate facilities for motorized boats and other watercraft, including launching ramps, guest moorage, and support facilities.
Typical Projects
Renovating boat launchesAdding guest moorage facilitiesBuilding parking, restrooms, and other boating amenities
Funding
Funding is awarded every 2 years and comes from a portion of the gasoline tax paid by boaters. Awards vary by project types:
Acquisition -  $1 millionDevelopment  - $1 millionCombination of acquisition and planning OR acquisition and development -  $1 millionPlanning (architecture, engineering, environmental review, permitting). The lesser of $200,000 or 20 percent of the estimated construction cost for a development or combined acquisition and development project.
Match Details
Match may include the following:

• Applicant’s labor, equipment, and materials
• Appropriations or cash
• Bonds
• Conservation futures
• Corrections labor
• Donations of cash, land, labor, equipment, and materials
• Federal, state, local, and private grants

Local agencies and special purpose districts must provide 25 percent match for each project, and at least 10 percent of the total project cost must be from a non-state, non-federal contribution.
State applicants do not need to provide match.
Tribes need to provide 25 percent match.

Eligibility

Who May Apply?Cities and townsCountiesNative American tribesPark and recreation districtsPort districtsPublic utility districtsThe Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Department of Natural Resources, the State Parks and Recreation Commission or other state agencies that provide motorized boating facilities for public outdoor recreation.The above entities must be authorized legally to develop, operate, and maintain recreational facilities.To apply for this funding, grant applicants must have completed a comprehensive recreation or conservation plan. See details on the planning page here and in Manual 2: Planning Guidelines.Eligible Projects:Acquisition Any facility for leased, exclusive use, or long-term moorageDevelopment Any facility primarily for commercial use or commercial vesselsDredging, including both capital construction and periodic activities to remove materials deposited due to unforeseen events; dredging must extend facility usefulness for at least 5 years. Moorage floats, fixed docks, and buoys for guest boaters Concessionaire buildings or spaceParking and staging areas Fuel sales equipment including piping, fuel pumps, and storage tanksPermits Master plans or feasibility studiesPlanning Mobile vessel transportersRamps and fixed hoists for launching, loading floats Projects on waters prohibiting gas-powered motorsRenovation Project primarily for non-gas powered boats, such as canoes, kayaks, or diesel-powered craftSewage pump-out stations and porta-potty dump stations

Ineligibility

Ineligible Projects:Any facility for leased, exclusive use, or long-term moorageAny facility primarily for commercial use or commercial vesselsMaintenance dredgingConcessionaire buildings or spaceFuel sales equipment including piping, fuel pumps, and storage tanksMaster plans or feasibility studiesMobile vessel transportersProjects on waters prohibiting gas-powered motorsProject primarily for non-gas powered boats, such as canoes, kayaks, or diesel-powered craft