The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program is designed to develop, renovate, and maintain public boating facilities for transient recreational boats twenty-six feet long and larger.
Donor Name: Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
State: Washington
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 04/30/2026
Size of the Grant: More than $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Categories
There are two tiers of grants offered in BIG. The key differences are the grant limits, how projects are selected for funding, and the items below.
- Tier One: State Grants
- An applicant may submit a stand-alone maintenance project.
- Applications are reviewed, evaluated, and ranked by the Washington State Boating Programs Advisory Committee.
- RCO typically accepts applications in even-numbered years but may accept applications in odd-numbered years if funds are available.
- Tier Two: National Grants
- An applicant may submit maintenance activities as part of a development or renovation project only. See “Maintenance Projects” for more information.
- Applications are reviewed by RCO staff and the Boating Programs Advisory Committee for eligibility and then forwarded, without state evaluation, to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the national competition.
- RCO accepts applications annually and the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awards grants the following year.
Typical Projects
- Renovating guest docks
- Installing utilities to moorage docks
- Building moorage docks and floats.
Funding Information
Funding generally is awarded every two years. Funding comes through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from federal gas taxes deposited in the federal Aquatic Resources Trust Fund.
- Tier 1 generally receives $300,000 annually.
- Tier 2 projects compete nationally for an average of $8 million to $12 million annually. Awards to Washington State projects vary.
Eligible Projects
- Development or renovation of the following:
- Boarding floats, guest moorage floats, fixed docks, piers, buoys
- Breakwaters
- Dinghy docks
- Navigational aids
- Upland support facilities such as restrooms, showers, utilities
- Education and information publications such as charts, guides, and brochures.
Eligibility Criteria
Grants may be made to the following organizations:
- Cities and towns
- Counties
- Native American tribes
- Port districts
- Nonprofit organizations
- Private operators
- State agencies
- Some special purpose districts, such as park and recreation districts or public utility districts, are eligible if legally authorized to acquire and develop public outdoor recreation facilities.
For more information, visit RCO.
