Coastal Management Grants
Coastal Management Grants support Wisconsin governments, tribes, nonprofits, and educational institutions in projects that protect Great Lakes coastal resources and improve public access.
Funder: Wisconsin Department of Administration
Due Dates: November 3, 2026 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Approximately $1.2 million available; projects may run up to 18 months
Summary: Grants support projects that protect and improve Wisconsin’s Great Lakes coastal resources and public access.
Key Information: Projects must be in a Wisconsin county adjacent to Lake Superior or Lake Michigan and provide a nonfederal match.
Description
The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program funds projects that protect, restore, and improve coastal resources and increase public access to the Great Lakes. The Wisconsin Department of Administration administers the grants with the Wisconsin Coastal Management Council and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Office for Coastal Management, using funding provided under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.
The five grant areas cover coastal wetlands and habitat, nonpoint source pollution, coastal resource and community planning, Great Lakes education, and public access and historic preservation. Projects must protect, restore, or enhance coastal resources, identify measurable outcomes, and demonstrate a need for this funding when no other viable source exists. The program prioritizes projects with a high relative impact on coastal resources.
