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July 1, 2020​

Gov. Evers Announces $1.5 Million in Grants for Wisconsin's Coastal Communities

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced $1.5 million in grants to local, state and tribal governments, regional planning commissions, universities and nonprofit organizations through the Department of Administration’s (DOA) Wisconsin Coastal Management Program. In its forty-second year, the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program aims to protect and improve the Great Lakes resources across Wisconsin’s coastal communities. The thirty-nine grants awarded this year will be used by grantees to assist with projects totaling over $3.4 million.

“Wisconsin’s Great Lakes are some of our most important economic, cultural and natural resources,” said Gov. Evers. “From safe drinking water to tourism and recreation to commerce and transportation, we know that protecting the health of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior is a key to our state’s ability to thrive and support future generations.”

DOA’s Wisconsin Coastal Management Program assists intergovernmental collaborations, as well as public and private partnerships, to advance statewide and regional Great Lakes priorities. Initiatives funded as part of this year’s grants include enhancing public access to the Great Lakes, sustainable use practices, community development, habitat restoration, and pollution control. A complete list of this year’s grant recipients and project descriptions is available here.

“Balancing the protection of natural resources and sustainable economic development along our coastal communities is a delicate but necessary responsibility,” said DOA Secretary Joel Brennan. “Through these grants, communities along our state’s Great Lakes will have the ability to do just that, while also supporting the statewide coastal management goals.”

Recipients for this year’s grants were recommended by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Council, a Gubernatorially-appointed citizen and governmental advisory group. The program awards federal funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office for Coastal Management in the U.S. Department of Commerce, to local governments and other entities for innovative coastal initiatives.

The next Request for Proposals will be available August 2020. Staff will be holding application workshops in September where attendees will learn about the program, application process and discuss project ideas, with an application deadline early November 2020. Additional information about the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program can be found at http://coastal.wisconsin.gov.​​




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September 06, 2019

​Governor Ever's Declares September 2019 to be Coastal Awareness Month

MADISON - Governor Tony Evers has proclaimed September as Coastal Awareness Month in Wisconsin in recognition of the important impact that the Great Lakes has on the state. Lake Michigan and Lake Superior are integral to Wisconsin’s economy, recreation, tourism, cultural history, and quality of life. The Governor’s proclamation is a reminder for the people of Wisconsin to protect, promote and enjoy the state’s Great Lakes.

In recognition of Coastal Awareness Month and the importance of the Great Lakes, the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) is proud to announce the release of the 2019 Wisconsin Great Lakes Chronicle. Now in its eighteenth year, the Chronicle promotes public awareness of Wisconsin Great Lakes issues, provides a vehicle for experts to educate public policy leaders, and creates an historical record of Great Lakes events and perspectives. The 2019 edition will feature several articles including those on Accessibility in the Apostle Islands, Regional Maritime Strategy, Water Resources and the use of LiDAR, and Managing Visitor Use of coastal resources. The 2019 Wisconsin Great Lakes Chronicle, including past issues, are available on the WCMP website. 

The Department of Administration’s WCMP, now in its 41st year, works cooperatively with Great Lakes stakeholders to help protect and enhance the natural, cultural, and historical resources of the Great Lakes while encouraging responsible economic development. The policy direction for WCMP is set by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Council. Members of the Council are appointed by the Governor and represent state agencies, local and tribal governments, and the general public. 

To further celebrate Coastal Awareness Month, the WCMP is again pleased to announce that it is accepting grant proposals to enhance and protect resources within Wisconsin’s coastal zone. The Department of Administration’s WCMP anticipates awarding approximately $1.5 million in grant funding. Application materials and the Request for Proposals are available on the WCMP website (http://coastal.wisconsin.gov). Applications are due November 1, 2019.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact WCMP staff early to discuss proposal ideas and application requirements. 

View or download press release PD​F​



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August 06, 2019

2020-21 Wisconsin Coastal Management Program Grants Available

The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) is seeking proposals to enhance, preserve, protect and restore resources within the state’s coastal zone – all counties adjacent to Lakes Superior and Michigan, with their nearly 1000 miles of shoreline. We anticipate awarding up to $1.5 million in grant funding.

WCMP Grants are available for coastal wetland protection and habitat restoration, nonpoint source pollution control, coastal resource and community planning, Great Lakes education, public access and historic preservation. Applications are due November 1, 2019. 

Applicants are encouraged to contact WCMP staff early to discuss ideas for project proposals and application requirements. When developing proposals, please pay close attention to the following items:

  • Application materials and the Request for Proposals are available on the WCMP website (http://coastal.wisconsin.gov).
  • There is a cost-share requirement for all projects. Matching funds must be from non-federal sources, and may be in the form of in-kind contributions.
  • For habitat restoration and construction projects, be sure to include copies of all required permits or permit applications and title documentation with the application materials.
  • For all projects, be sure to include copies of required documentation and letters of support.​​

​We have scheduled three informational workshops to discuss the grant application process and funding priorities. We look forward to seeing you at one of these workshops. 

​​Thursday, August 22, 2019, 1:30 p.m.
Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center
29270 County Highway G, Ashland

Wednesday, August 28, 2019, 1:30 p.m.
Neville Public Museum
210 Museum Place, Green Bay

Wednesday, September 4, 2019, 1:30 p.m.
Port Milwaukee
2323 S. Lincoln Memorial Drive, Milwaukee​


July 01, 2019

$1.4 Million in Grants for Wisconsin’s Coastal Communities​

Over $1.4 million in grants is available to support the quality of life and foster economic development to protect and improve the Great Lakes resources in Wisconsin’s coastal communities. Administered by the Department of Administration’s Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, the 38 grants will be used by local, state and tribal governments, regional planning commissions, universities and nonprofit organizations to assist with projects totaling more than $3.3 million.

Wisconsin’s Great Lakes are an important economic, cultural and natural resource. Lake Michigan and Lake Superior provide the people of Wisconsin with drinking water, commerce and recreation, and are a reason so many people live and visit the State.

The intergovernmental and private sector collaborations aided by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program advance Wisconsin and regional Great Lakes priorities such as enhancing public access, sustainable use practices, community development and resiliency, fostering future stewards, and resource protection.

Recipients for this year’s grants were recommended by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Council, a Governor-appointed citizen and governmental advisory group. The funds are part of Wisconsin’s federally-funded Coastal Management Program.

The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program balances sustainable economic development enhance and resource protection along Wisconsin's Great Lakes coasts. The program awards federal funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office for Coastal Management in the U.S. Department of Commerce, to local governments and other entities for innovative coastal initiatives.

The next Request for Proposals will be available August 2019. Staff will be holding application workshops in September where attendees will learn about the program, application process and discuss project ideas, with an application deadline early November 2019. Additional information about the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program can be found at http://coastal.wisconsin.gov.

A complete list of grants can be found here​.



March 12, 2019

Governor Evers Announces $176,000 in Grants for Wisconsin's Coastal Communities

Governor Tony Evers today announced $176,000 in grants to support local governments in Southeastern Wisconsin as they plan and prepare to build resilience to Lake Michigan coastal hazards. Administered by the Department of Administration's Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, the 7 grants will be used by local governments to assist with projects totaling nearly $370,000.

Southeastern Wisconsin's Lake Michigan bluffs, beaches, and harbor infrastructure are currently being impacted by a combination of high water levels, erosion, and coastal storms. These coastal hazards threaten coastal properties and can impair tourism and commerce in the region. Planning, preparing for and adapting to coastal hazards can enhance community resilience and strengthen coastal economies.

The intergovernmental collaborations aided by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program advance resilience priorities such as assessing the vulnerability of coastal infrastructure, developing strategies to reduce hazard risk and providing education and outreach to the public. The funds are part of a federally-funded National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Resilience Grant project entitled "Improving Economic Security in Coastal Wisconsin" that was awarded to the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program and its partners the University of Wisconsin Se​a Grant Institute, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC).

The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program balances natural resource protection and sustainable economic ​development along Wisconsin's Great Lakes coasts. The program awards federal funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office for Coastal Management in the U.S. Department of Commerce, to local governments and other entities for innovative coastal initiatives.

View or download press release PDF​





Sponsored Events

As part of Coastal Awareness Month, September 2019, the program is supporting the following local events highlighting the importance of the Great Lakes in the community. 


3rd Annual Harbor Fest, Milwaukee
Sunday, September 8, 2019

Smart Cities Series, Racine
Conference, September 11-12, 2019
Readiness Workshop, September 19, 2019

Wisconsin Point Restoration Commemoration Event, Superior
Friday, September 20, 2019

Valley Week, Milwaukee
September 21-28, 2019

14th Annual Sturgeon Fest, Milwaukee
Saturday, September 28, 2019


The WCMP was the first program in the Great Lakes and among the first ten nationally established through the federal Coastal Zone Management Act. Its mission since 1978 is a balance of resource protection and sustainable development within Wisconsin’s 15 Lake Michigan and Lake Superior counties. 


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