What is the North Carolina BIG Program?

The Boating Infrastructure Grant Program (BIG) is a federal grant program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that provides funding to states for docking facilities for transient boaters and for educational materials about the program.

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is designated as the lead agency for the grant program in North Carolina.  DMF partners with other state agencies, local governments, non-profit organizations, and private marinas and provides funding to construct, renovate, and maintain boating facilities for transient boaters. Transient boats are described as non-trailerable recreational vessels, 26 feet in length or longer.

BIG funds may be used for installation of tie-up facilities that can be occupied by boats for no more than 10 consecutive days, such as floating docks or fixed piers, boat slips, mooring buoys, fuel stations, sewage pump-out stations, restrooms, and dockside utility services.

 BIG funds cannot be used for commercial vessel infrastructure, tie-up facilities designed for trailerable boats or for long-term use, maintenance dredging, haul-out features, dry-land storage, law enforcement activities or purchase of land.

The BIG Program is established by the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act of 1998 (Public Law 105-178), which amended the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act (Wallop-Breaux Act; 16 U.S.C. 777).  Two percent of the funds available in the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund are allocated for the BIG Program after deducting amounts for other Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs.  The monies within this Trust Fund are derived from excise taxes on fishing equipment, motorboat and small engine fuels, import duties, and interest on the Fund.

The BIG Program has two funding levels, Tier 1 (state-wide competition) and Tier 2 (national competition): 

BIG Tier 1 makes $100,000 available annually to states which submit an eligible proposal.  Each year, DMF seeks proposals for projects totaling up to $100,000.  Proposals are reviewed, scored and ranked at the state level.  DMF may request funding for multiple Tier 1 projects, however, the total annual request cannot exceed $100,000.  It is not uncommon for more than one project to be funded in a given year.

BIG Tier 2 awards are a result of a national funding competition based solely on individual merit.  Tier 2 projects are those totaling greater than $100,000 and typically range up to $1.5 million.  In federal fiscal year 2010, more than $12 million in Tier 2 grants were awarded by the USFWS to 10 states across the country for 13 boating infrastructure projects.  The USFWS anticipates awarding approximately $10 million in BIG Tier 2 funding in federal fiscal year 2011.  Each year, Tier 2 proposals submitted to DMF are reviewed and scored against the scoring criteria used in the national competition.  Those proposals that meet program requirements, demonstrate a need in North Carolina, leverage existing facilities or match, demonstrate an ability to successfully complete the project and are cost efficient are likely to be submitted to the USFWS national funding competition.  These proposals are then reviewed, evaluated and ranked by a national panel with the final decision for funding made by the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

The maximum federal cost-share for BIG Tier 1 and Tier 2 awards is 75 percent.  However, applicants are encouraged to provide more than the minimum cost share required as the cost share percentage is a factor used in ranking Tier 2 proposals.

The ranking criteria, eligible projects and regulations are listed in the BIG Program Final Rule (50 CFR 86).  For more information about North Carolina’s BIG Program, contact DMF’s Federal Aid Coordinator, Kelly Price, by calling (252) 808-8168 or sending an email to Kelly.Price@ncdenr.gov.

Current Funding Opportunities

The federal fiscal year 2011 (FY2011) funding opportunity opens June 15, 2010. Completed applications must be received at the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries no later than 5 p.m. July 29, 2010.  Please note that applications are due earlier this year than in previous years. 

Applications should be submitted either electronically via email to Kelly.Price@ncdenr.gov, or mailed or delivered on a CD-ROM to the DMF Morehead City office at P.O. Box 769, 3441 Arendell St, Morehead City, N.C. 28557.  Electronic submission is preferred.

FY2011 BIG Funding Opportunity guidance documents:

FY2011 NCDMF Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Request for Proposals (RFP)

FFY2011 USFWS Tier 1 Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Notice of Availability of Grants

FFY2011 USFWS Tier 2 Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Notice of Availability of Grants

USFWS BIG Program Final Rule (50 CFR 86)

“BIG” Success for North Carolina in FY2009 and FY2010!

In April 2009, the USFWS announced that North Carolina was awarded three BIG Tier 2 grants, totaling more than $1.25 million in funding.  The USFWS also approved funding for two BIG Tier 1 awards totaling about $82,000.

• Plymouth (Tier 2):  The Town will receive $106,000 and match that amount with $44,000 to construct nine transient boat slips on the downtown waterfront. Proposal

• New Bern (Tier 2):  Swiss Bear Development Corp. will receive $646,650 and match that amount with $735,650 to construct a new marina on Jack’s Island, including 14 transient boat slips and associated facilities for transient boater use. Proposal

• Morehead City (Tier 2):  Downtown Morehead City Revitalization Association, Inc. will receive $504,360 and match that amount with $317,594 to construct 10 transient boat slips along the downtown Morehead City waterfront. Proposal

• Carolina Beach (Tier 1):  The Town will receive $37,500 and match that amount with $12,500 to construct a mooring field with 10 moorings in Myrtle Grove Sound and dinghy docks for transient boaters. Proposal

• Mid-Atlantic Christian University (Tier 1):  The former Roanoke Bible College will receive $43,800 and match that amount with $14,600 to construct eight transient boat slips along the Pasquotank River in Elizabeth City, NC. Proposal

In April 2010, the USFWS announced that North Carolina was awarded one BIG Tier 2 grant, totaling more than $455,000 in funding.  The USFWS also approved one BIG Tier 1 grant totaling about $57,000.

• Beaufort Harbor Marina and Yacht Club (Tier 2):  The Marina, in partnership with the Carteret County Economic Development Foundation, will receive $455,176 and match that amount with $506,176 to construct dockage for 50 transient vessels and other amenities along Beaufort’s Town Creek. Proposal

• Cypress Cove Marina (Tier 1):  The Marina will receive $57,150 and match that amount with $19,050 to renovate restroom and laundry facilities, and install navigational aids. Proposal

BIG Funding 2002 – 2010

*Projects are on-going. Amounts represent the total award.