Marine Safety Grants
Forecasted
Marine Safety Grants support Michigan county sheriff departments’ marine patrols, boat livery inspections, and boating safety education to promote safe recreational boating on public waters.
Funder: Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (application deadline)
Funding Amounts: State reimbursement up to 75% of actual expenditures; federal reimbursement up to 100%, each capped at the grant allocation
Summary: Supports Michigan county marine patrols, boat livery inspections, and boating safety education.
Key Information: Applications must be submitted electronically by a county sheriff department through MiGrants; paper applications are ineligible.
Description
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources administers Marine Safety Grants to promote safe use of recreational watercraft through law enforcement and education. Funding supports county sheriff departments’ patrol and enforcement work on public waters, boating safety classes, proctored exams for approved online safety courses, and boat livery inspections. Eligible costs also include operating needs and equipment necessary for patrol and law enforcement.
Awards reflect each county’s public waters to be patrolled, available marine patrol personnel, planned livery inspections, and boating safety education program. The department also considers total marine safety program expenditures and past operating grant history. State funding is administered by the department; federal Boating Safety Financial Assistance funding is administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.
