Boat Access Area Development (BAAD)

The Illinois Boat Access Area Development (BAAD) Grant Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), offers financial support to local units of government for the acquisition, construction, or renovation of public boat and canoe access areas across the state. Funded through the State Boating Act Fund, the program derives revenue from the Marine Motor Fuel Tax, boat and canoe registration fees, and associated fines. The General Assembly annually appropriates these funds, which are distributed via a competitive grant process managed by the IDNR's Office of Grant Management and Assistance. The BAAD grant serves to enhance public access to Illinois’ waterways by funding projects such as boat launching ramps, maneuvering and parking areas, access roads, water and restroom facilities, security lighting, courtesy docks, marine sanitary disposal stations, and architectural or engineering services essential to project development. Grants may cover up to 100% of development project costs and up to 90% of land acquisition costs. Maximum funding per cycle is capped at $200,000 for power boat facilities and $80,000 for non-motorized watercraft access. The total available for the FY2026 cycle is approximately $1,000,000. Both application and award fees apply, with a $300 application fee and an award fee equal to 1% of the grant amount. Eligibility is limited to Illinois municipalities, townships, counties, park districts, conservancy districts, port districts, and other local governmental units capable of developing and maintaining recreational lands. Projects must involve a single site that provides access to publicly owned bodies of water or those listed in Illinois Administrative Code Section 3704.Appendix A. Sites lacking a boat or canoe launch, or those on private waters, are not eligible. Entities must also be registered with the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) system and submit a GATA Standard Application and Uniform Budget Template. Applications must be submitted electronically through the AmpliFund Grant Management System. The deadline for submission is 5:00 PM on September 30, 2025. No paper, faxed, or hand-delivered applications will be accepted. Late applications are automatically disqualified. Applications may only be submitted once per cycle, for either a development or acquisition project—not both. Additionally, projects that receive a grant must be completed within a two-year period, and necessary permits must be secured within one year of approval. Applications are reviewed competitively and scored based on projected usage, site suitability, maintenance capacity, program fit, impact on local businesses, community support, and financial commitment. The IDNR Director makes the final decision on awards, which are typically announced within 180 days of the deadline. Appeals to the review process are allowed under GATA guidelines. Awardees must sign a formal grant agreement and post an acknowledgment sign at the funded site. Recipients must also maintain all financial and project records for at least three years for audit purposes. For questions or additional information, applicants can contact the Office of Grant Management and Assistance at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702. Phone: (217) 782-7481. Email: dnr.grants@illinois.gov.

Ensure GATA registration. Project must be single-site and have a launch. Submit through AmpliFund only.