20 States to Share More Than $18 Million in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Grants for Boating Infrastructure

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program will provide more than $18 million in much-needed grant funding for 20 states to construct, renovate and maintain marinas and other boating facilities for outdoor recreation. States receiving BIG grants include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, although all states and territories were eligible to apply.

“Local communities, people who love the outdoors, and wildlife and natural resources all benefit when outdoor opportunities are easy to access,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “Grants made under the BIG program are great examples of the Service’s commitment to working with state and local partners to improve infrastructure and support conservation efforts. These funds and projects complement the Biden-Harris Administration’s work under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) is a once-in-a-generation investment in the nation’s infrastructure and economic competitiveness. We were directly appropriated $455 million over five years in BIL funds for programs related to the President’s America the Beautiful initiative.

Learn more about Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the America the Beautiful initiative.” 

Grantees use BIG funds to construct, renovate and maintain marinas and other facilities with features for transient boats (those staying 15 days or less), that are 26 feet or more in length, and are used for recreation. Grantees may also use funds to produce and distribute information and educational materials about the program and recreational boating.

Under the BIG program, more than $3 million will fund projects in 19 states under the BIG Tier 1 subprogram, and $15 million in grants will be awarded competitively for projects in nine states (eight of which are also receiving Tier 1 grants) under the BIG Tier 2 subprogram. The Tier 2 projects will contribute an estimated 426 new or renovated boat slips and berths as well as approximately 5,682 feet of additional side-tie docking space, plus other amenities (including fuel docks, restrooms, showers, wave attenuators and Wi-Fi) for the benefit and enjoyment of the transient recreational boating public.

Since its inception in 2000, the BIG program has awarded $263.1 million to projects for large transient recreational boats, including funding the construction of more than 6,500 berths and other amenities benefitting boaters across most states and U.S. territories.

Funding for the BIG program comes from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. Boaters and manufacturers contribute to the trust fund through excise taxes and duties on certain fishing and boating equipment and boating fuels. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included the reauthorization of the trust fund, which is the cornerstone of state-based aquatic resource conservation and benefits all U.S. states and territories.

More information regarding the 2022 BIG grant awards can be found here. More information about the BIG program can be found here.