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<\/a><\/p>\nFunded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program, BIG is a competitive program open to both publicly and privately owned marinas to renovate or construct visitor docks, restrooms, gangways and dockside utility hook-ups for transient recreational boats 26 feet or greater in length.<\/p>\n
Through the BIG Program, grant recipients can:<\/p>\n
Enhance access to recreational, historic, cultural and scenic resources.
\nStrengthen community ties to water\u2019s edge and economic benefits.
\nPromote public\/private partnerships and entrepreneurial opportunities.
\nProvide continuity of public access to the shore.
\nPromote awareness of transient boating opportunities.
\nInterested applicants should first review the federal guidelines and application instructions to determine if they meet the necessary requirements. Grants are available to qualifying projects on a competitive basis. The USFWS ranks and scores grant requests according to need, access, cost efficiency, matching funds, and innovations that improve user access to the waterways.<\/p>\n
The Division of Boating and Waterways, as the pass-through entity for the grant application process, reviews each application and sends the most eligible projects to the USFWS to compete against applicants from other states and territories. If awarded a USFWS grant, the division will manage the project through completion to ensure it meets federal requirements.<\/p>\n
Marina operators eligible to compete in this program should contact Deborah Holmes at Deborah.Holmes@parks.ca.gov or (916) 327-1822.<\/p>\n