The Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program, administered by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, provides financial assistance for the development and maintenance of transient moorage facilities that serve recreational motorboats 26 feet and longer. The grant program was established under the Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Act of 1998 and is funded by excise taxes on motorboat fuel. The goal of the program is to enhance boating infrastructure by constructing and maintaining transient tie-up facilities, allowing boaters to stop and dock for short periods. Transient use is defined as stays of 15 days or less.

The grant program offers two tiers of funding. Tier 1 provides up to $300,000 annually for small-scale projects within Pennsylvania. Tier 2 supports larger projects exceeding $300,000, which are submitted to a national competitive selection process managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The funds may be used for constructing, renovating, and maintaining transient tie-up facilities, including floating docks, fixed piers, navigational aids, and dockside utilities such as electric, water, and pump-out stations. These facilities must be constructed on navigable waters that are publicly accessible and deep enough for non-trailerable vessels to operate safely.

Eligible applicants include municipal agencies such as cities, towns, and counties, as well as state agencies, other government entities, and private operators of open-to-the-public boating facilities. To qualify, project sponsors must provide at least 25% of the project’s total cost, which can come from appropriations, bond issues, agency labor, or donations in the form of cash, labor, materials, or equipment. Grants are awarded as reimbursements, meaning that funds are not provided upfront but are reimbursed after project expenditures are certified.

Applicants must ensure that the facilities funded through the grant program are designed to last for at least 20 years and include appropriate navigational aids to facilitate safe passage. Additional responsibilities include maintaining the facilities, complying with nondiscrimination policies, and accommodating audits as required by the grant program. While grantees may charge fees for facility use, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission encourages free public access whenever possible.

Applications for the Boating Infrastructure Grant are due annually by July 31, with successful proposals being approved early in the following year. The program guidelines provide detailed instructions on how, when, and where to apply. Interested applicants can access the guidelines and application portal online.

For further inquiries, applicants may contact the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Boating Infrastructure Grant Program at PO Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. They can also reach the program office by phone at 717-346-8196 or via email at ra-boatgrants@pa.gov.