RCO Boating Infrastructure Grant Program

The Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program is a federally funded initiative administered through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This program aims to support the development, renovation, and planning of boating infrastructure designed specifically for transient recreational boats that are 26 feet or longer. Additionally, the program supports boater education and information dissemination to improve recreational boating experiences and safety. The funding is part of the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, sourced from federal gas taxes, and is allocated to states, territories, and other eligible entities to implement locally beneficial projects with national impact. The BIG Program is divided into two primary funding tiers. Tier 1 offers smaller grants typically capped at approximately $288,046 per project and receives around $300,000 in funding annually for individual states. Tier 2 supports larger, nationally competitive projects with individual awards ranging from $300,001 to $1,440,230. Overall, Tier 2 projects are awarded from a national pool of approximately $8 million to $12 million per year. All applicants are required to provide a 25% cost share, with further stipulations for certain entities—such as the requirement for non-state, non-federal sources to make up at least 10% of the total project cost for applicants who are not tribes or state agencies. Eligible entities include cities, towns, counties, Native American tribes, port districts, nonprofit organizations, private operators, state agencies, and certain special purpose districts like park or public utility districts, provided they are legally authorized to develop public outdoor recreation facilities. Funded activities under the program include the construction or renovation of moorage docks and floats, boarding floats, breakwaters, upland support structures (like restrooms and showers), and educational materials. However, there are strict limitations: facilities for vessels under 26 feet, long-term moorage slips, dry storage, dredging over $200,000, and land acquisition are ineligible. The 2026 grant cycle timeline includes key application milestones: applications open on February 11, 2026, following an informational webinar. A pre-application is due by April 30, 2026. The full application deadline is July 15, 2026. Following this, a technical review will take place from July 22 to July 29, with technical completion required by August 13. Project evaluations will be conducted between August 19 and August 26. After this, applications will be submitted by the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from September 1 to September 30, 2026. Final project selections will be made by January 31, 2027, with awards expected to be distributed by July 31, 2027. The grant program is recurring and generally offered on a biennial basis, providing regular opportunities for qualified entities to propose and develop projects aligned with BIG’s objectives. Application resources include various required forms such as match certification, fiscal data collection, and environmental review documents. Applicants are encouraged to consult provided manuals and attend webinars to enhance their submissions. No specific point of contact is named for the BIG Program in the provided materials, but resources and forms are accessible via the Recreation and Conservation Office. Interested parties are advised to prepare for significant pre-application documentation and match commitment verifications. The long-term commitment to maintaining funded infrastructure is a cornerstone of the program, as facilities must remain in service for their useful life, ensuring lasting benefit to recreational boaters.