Funds under this grant award will be used to administer the boating infrastructure grant (big) program in north carolina

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Division of Coastal Management received a $304,447 Project Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act (CFDA 15.622) effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. This award funds the administration and development of the Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) Program in North Carolina, which supports the construction, renovation, and maintenance of docking, mooring, and related facilities for transient recreational vessels 26 feet or longer. NCDEQ will establish a BIG program framework that complies with requirements set by the Office of Conservation Investment and the State of North Carolina.

In addition to program administration, the grant provides resources for NCDEQ staff to participate in professional development and training initiatives designed to enhance program management capabilities. These activities include attendance at BIG Program workshops, the annual States Organization for Boating Access Education Symposium, and grants management training offered by the Office of Conservation Investment. Through this training participation, NCDEQ administrators will gain knowledge of successful practices from other state programs and remain current with changing BIG program rules and regulations, positioning North Carolina to effectively administer boating infrastructure funding and maximize public access to recreational boating facilities.

The north carolina department of environmental quality - division of coastal management (ncdeq-DCM) will develop a big program that complies with the requirements of the office of conservation investment (CI) and the state of north carolina. Additionally, this funding will allow staff to attend training opportunities, including big program workshops, the annual states organization for boating access (soba) education symposium, and other grants management training offered by CI. This will allow ncdeq-DCM big program administrators to become familiar with other state programs that successfully administer the big program and to gain knowledge of changing rules and regulations within the program.