Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) on Wednesday announced Harbor Assistance Program grants totaling more than $10 million for five harbor maintenance and construction projects in La Crosse, La Pointe, Marinette, Green Bay, and Manitowoc. Improvements will help strengthen supply chain reliability, support waterborne freight, and assist with economic development in Wisconsin’s coastal communities.
Created in 1979, Wisconsin’s Harbor Assistance Program helps harbor communities maintain and improve waterborne commerce. Applications are reviewed by the Harbor Advisory Council, which includes members from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, University of Wisconsin Sea Grant, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, Wisconsin Economic Development Corp., Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and alumni from the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute.
Applications are accepted from public or private harbor facilities for projects that benefit facilities used for cargo transfer, shipbuilding, commercial fishing, vessel cruises, or ferry service. All projects must have a transportation efficiency benefit-cost ratio greater than one over a 25-year project life and be identified in a current three-year harbor development plan. Selection criteria include economic impact, urgency, and project type.
Those interested in the next round of Harbor Assistance Project grants should note that the deadline for the next cycle is Aug. 1. More information about Wisconsin’s Harbor Assistance Program and past grant awards can be found here.
