– Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (SFY25)
Can you apply?
This grant is for owners and operators of boat docking and mooring facilities in Illinois. Applicants must operate facilities for recreational boats 26 feet or larger. Projects must involve construction, renovation, or maintenance of transient boating infrastructure.
Facilities must accommodate temporary stays (up to 15 consecutive days) for storm shelter, way station use, or mooring for fishing and recreation. All applicants must provide 25% matching funds from their own resources or partners. Federal funds cover up to 75% of approved project costs.
This grant is for owners and operators of boat docking and mooring facilities in Illinois. Applicants must operate facilities for recreational boats 26 feet or larger. Projects must involve construction, renovation, or maintenance of transient boating infrastructure.
Facilities must accommodate temporary stays (up to 15 consecutive days) for storm shelter, way station use, or mooring for fishing and recreation. All applicants must provide 25% matching funds from their own resources or partners. Federal funds cover up to 75% of approved project costs.
Program description
Construction, renovation, and maintenance of docking, mooring, and other facilities for transient, recreational boats 26 feet or greater in length. Funds for the program come from federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels through the Sport Fishing and Boating Safety program and can provide up to 75 percent of an approved project’s cost. Proposed facilities are those which transient recreational boats 26 feet or more in length can occupy temporarily, not to exceed 15 consecutive days for temporary shelter from storm, way station, mooring for fishing or recreation purposes. The applicant must provide the other 25 percent of a project’s cost.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is the grantor agency and will reimburse successful applicants up to 75% of allowable project expenses. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will administer the program for the State of Illinois. All proposals must be submitted to the Service by the IDNR; the administering unit of the IDNR is the Federal Aid/Special Funds Section of the Office of Resource Conservation.
The BIG-P requires a non-federal matching share of 25 percent. All applicants must provide this match through their own funds or from other partners. The IDNR will not provide any direct funding for this program.
There are two levels of funding; Tier 1 is for smaller projects within existing facilities, with a maximum grant award to one applicant of $200,000.00. There is a total of $200,000.00 available to the IDNR under Tier 1 this year. If requests are greater than the funding, projects will be ranked by the Criteria for Funding Priority in Part III;
Tier 2 projects will compete nationally and be ranked by the USFWS. Tier 2 projects must be prorated appropriately when other users benefit from the project. The maximum Federal share for Tier 2 grants is $1.5 million per application. Federal Assistance Listing: 15.622. Administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources via the Illinois GATA Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA 422-20-0112).
Who can apply
Eligible applicants
Details
This grant is for owners and operators of boat docking and mooring facilities in Illinois. Applicants must operate facilities for recreational boats 26 feet or larger. Projects must involve construction, renovation, or maintenance of transient boating infrastructure.
Facilities must accommodate temporary stays (up to 15 consecutive days) for storm shelter, way station use, or mooring for fishing and recreation. All applicants must provide 25% matching funds from their own resources or partners. Federal funds cover up to 75% of approved project costs.
How to apply
Application links
Required documents
- Illinois GATA application materials
- Project narrative and scope
- Budget and cost documentation
- Matching funds commitment letters
- Site plans and engineering details (if construction/renovation)
- Environmental compliance documentation
- Evidence of transient boating need
Program contact
- 👤 Justison, Kathy
- 📧 Kathy.Justison@illinois.gov
Funding track record
Recent awards under CFDA 15.622 from the last 3 years — real organizations that won funding through this same program.
Top 10 Largest Recent Awards
-
$1,946,898
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,500,000
-
$1,500,000
Top States by Funding
- SC 9 awards $10.4M
- FL 8 awards $8.7M
- VA 8 awards $7.8M
- GA 6 awards $5.4M
- CA 7 awards $4.9M
Source: USAspending.gov — federal spending transparency. Data covers last 3 years.
FAQ
Who can apply for BIG-P grants?
Operators of boat facilities in Illinois offering transient mooring for recreational boats 26+ feet. Applicants must have 25% matching funds available.
What types of projects are eligible?
Construction, renovation, or maintenance of docking, mooring, and shelter facilities. Projects must serve boats 26 feet or larger with temporary stays of 15 days or less.
What is the funding range?
Tier 1 (existing facilities): up to $200,000. Tier 2 (new/major projects): up to $1.5 million in federal funds.
How competitive is this grant?
Very competitive. Tier 1 has limited state funding. Tier 2 projects compete nationally and are ranked by USFWS.
When is the deadline?
Rolling basis. Check Illinois IDNR website for specific submission windows and timeline details.
💡 Tips for applicants
- Identify your matching funds early. You must secure 25% of project costs before applying.
- Choose between Tier 1 (up to $200K, less competition) or Tier 2 (up to $1.5M, national competition) based on your project scope.
- Detail how transient boaters will benefit. Explain temporary stay duration and uses (storm shelter, mooring, way station).
- If Tier 2, ensure your project budget includes fair proration for all user groups that benefit.
- Submit through Illinois IDNR, not directly to USFWS. Contact the Office of Resource Conservation to understand local review criteria.
⚠️ Common mistakes
Failing to secure 25% matching funds before submission. Proposing facilities that serve boats under 26 feet. Overestimating federal funding without confirming eligible project costs and approved use categories.
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