Small Harbor Improvement Program

The Small Harbor Improvement Program (SHIP) promotes economic development, public access, improved commercial fishing opportunities and works to preserve, and create, infrastructure at facilities in tidewater and coastal municipalities. The SHIP program assists municipalities in improving or creating facilities, such as; public wharves, piers, landings and boat ramps. There is a required 20% local share under this program. These applications are typically available in the spring of alternating year.

View the Powerpoint overview of SHIP and Boating Infrastructure Grant Program

2012 Program

MaineDOT has accepted applications for the Small Harbor Improvement Program. This competitive grant application is open to tidewater communities that can demonstrate a need to improve economic activity and improve access to a tidewater river or the ocean on publicly accessible property. Typical types of projects funded under this program include wharfs, piers, floats, gangways, boat ramps, limited dredging, etc. The goal of this program is to promote economic development, improve public marine infrastructure, and improve public access. MaineDOT will schedule site visits as needed after Letters of Intent have been filed.

2012 Approved Projects

On October 11th, 2012, MaineDOT sent out letters of approval for 20 projects throughout the state totaling more than 1.4 million dollars in improvements. The approximately 1 million dollars in SHIP funding was matched by almost 400,000 in local funding. Over forty five applications were received from forty different communities for project requests totaling 5.8 million dollars. The project approved including commercial and municipal pier and wharf improvements, hoist systems, boat ramps, gangways, stairwells, piling replacements, and floats. These projects are intended to assist coastal tidewater communities improve facilities to assist commercial fisherman, clammers, lobsterman, and other entities reliant on improved access for economic and transportation needs.

View the list of approved projects.

Deadlines

Letters of intent were received on May 11th. The application deadline was August 3^rd, 2012 for those communities who submitted a letter of intent.

For those who are interested in future projects, who did not apply this year, please contact us any time to discuss your proposed project.

Example Forms from 2012

Announcement (Word) (PDF)
Application (Word) (PDF)

Project Eligibility

The project proposal must meet three basic criteria:

Project must improve access to the water for the public, including but not limited to commercial and recreational fishermen and other resource and tourism related industries.
Proposed project must be on current or proposed public access facilities. If the project is not on public property, the public must have easement rights for at least 100 years.
The project and proposed local match must have local elected official approval before application deadline.

Funding Information/Eligibility

Design – If a project is unlikely to be fully designed or permitted in time for construction to begin this upcoming summer, fall or winter, design only is eligible for funding.
Construction – If a project is ready to begin construction this summer, fall, or winter, construction is eligible for funding
Most projects will be locally administered, and overseen by MaineDOT.
A local cash match of at least 20% of the total project cost is required. In-kind contributions and/or efforts completed before a project agreement is signed will not be counted toward local match.
The project must have a useful life of 20 years or greater.
The schedule calls for projects to be selected by August 1st, and a binding state/municipal agreement to be signed in August. Projects are expected to begin construction this summer, fall, or winter.

Please contact Dan Stewart, Quality Community Program Manager at 207-624-3252 or dan.stewart@maine.gov.

Past SHIP Awards

MaineDOT Project & Grant Info