Boating Infrastructure Grant Program

The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program is administered in Ohio by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Parks and Watercraft in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The program is authorized under the Sport Fishing and Boating Safety Act and funded through the Sport Fish Restoration Account, which is supported by federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels. The program is designed to expand and improve boating infrastructure for recreational vessels, specifically targeting facilities that serve transient, non-trailerable boats measuring 26 feet or longer. The primary purpose of this program is to fund the construction, installation, and improvement of transient mooring facilities on navigable waters. Transient use is defined as short-term stays, generally not exceeding 10 to 15 consecutive days depending on interpretation between materials, and facilities must be open to the public. Eligible infrastructure includes docks, slips, mooring buoys, breakwaters, utilities, pump-out stations, and other amenities that enhance boater access and safety. Facilities must meet strict requirements, including being located in waters at least six feet deep, accommodating large vessels, and maintaining a useful life of at least 20 years. Funding is distributed through two tiers. Tier I supports smaller projects with a maximum reimbursement of $300,000 per project and is competitive at the state level. Tier II supports larger-scale projects with a maximum reimbursement of $1,500,000 and is highly competitive at the national level. Across both tiers, grants are reimbursable and can cover up to 75 percent of total project costs, requiring a minimum 25 percent non-federal match from state, local, or private sources. Additional matching contributions above the minimum can improve competitiveness during evaluation. Eligibility extends broadly to public and private entities, including marinas, local governments, and other facilities that can provide qualifying transient boating infrastructure. Applicants must ensure compliance with environmental regulations, ADA accessibility requirements, and design standards established by Ohio DNR. Projects must also demonstrate public benefit, maintain open access, and include supporting infrastructure such as pump-out access within two miles. Certain activities are explicitly prohibited, including routine maintenance, long-term docking construction, and facilities serving trailerable boats. Applications must be submitted electronically to the designated grants coordinator between April 1 and July 1. Applicants are encouraged to consult with program staff one to three months in advance of submission. The application requires detailed project descriptions, cost estimates, site plans, and justification narratives aligned with evaluation criteria. These criteria include innovation, cost effectiveness, economic impact, partnerships, and the project’s ability to connect to significant recreational or cultural destinations. Following submission, projects undergo a scoring process based on defined criteria and must first pass prequalification requirements. Successful applications proceed through a multi-step approval process involving both state and federal review. Award notifications are typically issued in the spring following submission, although timelines may vary. Approved projects enter into formal agreements before any work begins, and the performance period may extend up to three years, during which the project must be completed and maintained in accordance with program requirements. The program operates on an annual cycle, with recurring application opportunities each year. Applicants should anticipate approximately one year between application submission and project initiation due to review, approval, and contracting processes. For further information, applicants may contact the Grants Administrator, Sean Landon, via email or phone as provided in program materials.

Provide more than minimum match to increase score emphasize partnerships demonstrate economic impact and innovation align project with destination access and cost effectiveness