Courtesy Boat Inspection Grant Program

    Funding agency
    Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
    Status
    Future Rounds Anticipated
    Description

    The Courtesy Boat Inspection grant program provides funding to eligible parties who wish to conduct courtesy boat inspections on a waterbody or waterbodies that they represent. Program requirements differ between lakes known to be infested with an aquatic invasive species and uninfested lakes (details on the website). DEP-approved training and data collection methods are required for participation in the program.

    Contact
    Chris Reily, chris.reily@maine.gov, 207-815-8085
    Additional notes

    Generally, a single access point on an uninfested waterbody will be provided up to $2,700. Direct grants may receive more, possibly up over $10,000, but this is highly location and group-dependent. Max award varies from year to year depending upon infestation status, past performance for participants when applicable, amount of funding utilized in previous grant cycles when applicable, and the level of risk of vulnerability to infestation or to the spread of infestation associated with the grantee's identified waterbody.

    Total funding
    $500,000
    Max award
    $2,700
    Match required
    Maybe
    Match description
    Uninfested lakes must provide %100 match via any combination of cash and in-kind. No match requirements as of right now for infested waterbodies.
    Applications open
    Applications close
    Anticipated next round
    Future rounds
    Future rounds anticipated
    Eligible applicant description

    From the Grant Notice: 

    • Eligible organizations include municipal and county governments, quasi-municipal organizations (including water districts) and 501c (3) organizations. 
    • All grantees must have a State of Maine Vendor Form on file with the state which provides the state with your organization’s Tax Identification Number (TIN) and payment address. The Vendor Form and instructions are being sent to you with the Grant Notification and Application forms.
    Eligibility requirements

    To participate you must: 

    • Be of an organization type outlined above 
    • Adhere to program-specific training and data collection protocols 
    • Provide match as described in the Notice if you are representing an uninfested lake.
    Geographic eligibility

    State-wide program for freshwater locations. This is not a marine environment program.

    Project type
    Natural Resource and Environmental Stewardship
    Project subcategory
    Invasive Species
    Outdoor Recreation
    Project stage
    Implementation
    Download this grant as CSV
    Last updated: March 10, 2026