Where does the big funding come from?
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Funding for Maryland’s BIG Program comes from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund which includes excise taxes paid by manufacturers on sportfishing equipment and electric outboard motors, fuel taxes attributable to motorboats and non-business use of small-engine power equipment.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources(DNR) administers this reimbursement grant program for the state and works with eligible marinas and facility owners as a “sub-grantee/subrecipient” to create and enhance transient recreational boat access in Maryland.
Two levels of grant funding provide up to 75% in reimbursable federal funding for BIG-eligible activities:
- BIG Tier 1 - State grants ($200,000 in federal funds per year per state) that are competitive on a statewide level.
- BIG Tier 2 - National grants of a maximum $1.5 million in federal funds per project are nationally competitive.
There is a Maryland state Waterway Improvement Fund (WIF) which can potentially provide the 25% required match for publicly owned facilities. The privately owned marinas/facilities are not eligible for WIF therefore are solely responsible for the required minimum 25% match either with their own funds or seeking other non-federal funding sources.
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