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 N.C. Boating Infrastructure Grant Program | 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 and amenities for transient boaters. The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) is the lead agency for BIG in North Carolina. Through partnerships with other state agencies, local governments, non-profit organizations, and private marinas, DMF provides funding to construct, renovate, and maintain boating facilities for transient boaters. Transient boats are described as non-trailerable, recreational, cruising vessels, 26 feet in length or longer. Dockage may be occupied by these transient boaters for no more than 10 consecutive days. | BIG funds may be used for: - floating docks
- fixed piers
- mooring buoys
- dinghy docks
- fuel stations
- sewage pump-out stations
- restrooms, showers, and/or laundry
- dockside utility services (water, electricity, Internet)
| BIG funds cannot be used for: - commercial vessel infrastructure
- tie-up facilities designed for trailerable boats or long-term use
- maintenance dredging
- haul-out features
- dry-land storage
- law enforcement activities
- purchase of land
- services or structures for food, retail, or lodging (exp. ship’s store)
| | 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. |
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