BIG-P - Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (SFY25)

The BIG-P - Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (SFY25) aims to provide funding for the construction, renovation, and maintenance of docking, mooring, and other facilities for transient, recreational boats 26 feet or greater in length. The program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and funded by federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels. The grant requires a non-federal matching share of 25 percent, and applicants must provide this match through their own funds or from other partners. Key aspects of the program include: • The program has two levels of funding: Tier 1 for smaller projects within existing facilities, with a maximum grant award of $200,000, and Tier 2 for larger projects that will compete nationally. • Eligible applicants include State, District of Columbia, Commonwealth, or Territorial agencies with lead management responsibility for fish and wildlife resources. • The program's criteria for funding priority include need, access, and cost efficiency, match and partnerships, innovation, and environmental compliance, sustainability, and stewardship. • Applications will be reviewed and selected based on these criteria, with Tier 1 applications being reviewed and pre-approved by the IDNR before submitting to the Service, and Tier 2 applications being ranked by the USFWS.