Waterways Assistance Programs                                     (Grants for Local Governments)

The Waterway Assistance Program is a grant program established by the Florida Legislature and the District for the purpose of financially cooperating with local governments to increase public access associated with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and associated waterways within the District. The program is authorized by Section 374.976, Florida Statutes, and is administered under the provisions of Chapter 66B-2, Florida Administrative Code.Dutton Island Preserve Atlantic BeachEligible local governmental agencies include municipalities, counties, port authorities and special taxing districts within the twelve counties of the District.

Grant applications are posted to the District's website in January. Applications are due at the District office toward the end of March. Please see the application package for deadline dates. Funding is awarded in October.

Applications are initially reviewed by the District staff for compliance with District rules. If the application is in compliance, the applicant presents his application to the District's Board of Commissioners. The Board then evaluates the application utilizing a rating form. Projects scoring the minimum number points become eligible for funding which is subject to statutory and budget limitations. For those projects which are approved for funding by the District Board, funds become available on October 1st.

Delray Beach Police Boat

The limitation on funding has been established by the Legislature to be up to 80% of the tax revenue that the District receives from the county in which the applicant is located. There may be several applicants from within a county competing for these funds. 

Waterway related projects must be located on natural, navigable waterways within the District. Eligible waterway related projects include navigation channel dredging, channel markers, navigation signs or buoys, boat ramps, docking facilities, fishing & viewing piers, waterfront boardwalks, inlet management, environmental education, law enforcement equipment, boating safety programs, beach re-nourishment, dredge material management, environmental mitigation, and shoreline stabilization.

Navigation Channel Dredging

The District is authorized to provide up to 75% for public navigation projects, while all other project categories are eligible for up to 50% funding assistance. Annually the District allocates approximately $10-12 million dollars for the program. Cash and other grant funds may be utilized as the local match.

Buena Vista Park New Smyrna Beach

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For more information, please contact Janet Zimmerman.

Bert Winters Boat Ramp Lake Park