Coastal Grants Program

Coastal Management Grants


The Wisconsin Department of ​Administration (DOA) administers WCMP Grants in collaboration with the Wisconsin Coastal Management Council (WCMC) and the Office for Coastal Management (OCM), U.S. Department of Commerce, through funding provided under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.

Approximately $1.6 million of WCMP Grants will be 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 projects

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2025-2026 Application Materials *Now Available*



​​The following materials are needed to apply for a 2025-2026 WCMP grant. Please read all materials carefully.

Applications are due Friday, November 1, 2024. Contact staff at coastal@wisconsin.gov with any questions.

  1. Cover Memo
  2. Request for Proposal
  3. Applications Instructions
  4. Certification and Checklist
  5. Grant Application Form *Final submission must be in Word format*
  6. Budget Table​​ (Excel) NEW

Additional documents

  1. ​​Supplemental Documentation for environmental and data management compliance *may be required*
  2. Example budget table for guidance. Please contact staff for clarification with table entries.

Applicants do not need to mail any hard copies to WCMP.​​ Applications are due November 1, 2024.

Applicants are highly encouraged to discuss proposals with staff prior to the due date.


2025-2026 Applicant Information


The Wisconsin Coastal Management Council Project Selection Committee will meet in January 2025 to hear grant applicants' presentations and develop funding recommendations for the 2025-2026 grant cycle. The funding recommendations will be approved by the Coastal Management Council at the February 2025 meeting. The Department of Administration Secretary will make the final funding decisions. 

Important dates to remember:

  • Grant Workshop *Virtual* September 25, 2024 from 12:00-1:30pm. Registration not required.

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  • Application Deadline: November 1, 2024
  • Project Review Committee: January 2025
  • WCMC Meeting: February 2025
  • Projects Selected: Spring 2025
  • Projects Begin: July 1, 2025*
  • Project Completion: ​December 30, 2026**

* Project start date of July 1 is not guaranteed for projects requiring additional approval. Contact staff for more information.

** Starting with July 1, 2025 grants, the allowable timeline will now be 18-months instead of 12-months.


Grant Workshop Webinar


​​​All new and returning applicants are encouraged to watch this grant workshop webinar. The webinar includes information on the coastal program and on the expectations of successful applicants. Click the image below to launch the webinar.


Download a PDF version​​ of the slides to follow along.

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Required Forms & Reporting


*Current grant recipients only*

Grantees are required to submit progress reports (quarterly), final reports, and invoices using Program supplied templates. Please contact Lauren Leckwee (lauren.leckwee@​wisconsin.gov) or your assigned grant manager if you have not received one of these templates.

Performance Measures

Regarding Performance Measures, the WCMP, as terms of continuing federal grant funding, is required to submit numbers for defined areas in:

    • Public Access - Sites created or enhanced
    • Coastal Habitat - # of Acres restored
    • Training Events - all related events in any category
    • Coastal Dependent Uses & Community - developed or implemented plans, policies, ordinances
    • Government Coordination & Decision Making (Program only)

The numbers generated by activities in these areas must be reported for the fiscal year in which they occurred. For example, an activity occurring between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 must be reported to WCMP by June 30, 2025 regardless of extension status.

Due Dat​​​es

    • Quarterly Reports: September 30, December 30, March 30, June 30 for the duration
    • Final Report: No later than 60 days after the end of the grant period
      • ​60 day grace period does not apply to projects that have received an extension. Materials due by the given deadline for extended grants.
Questions, comments, or concerns regarding the required reporting should be directed to the Federal Reporting Coordinator here.

Logos

​​Download the WCMP logo 

Download the NOAA logo​​



​Interactive Story Map​​​



Use this Interactive Story Map to explore a subset of WCMP's past awarded grants (2014-2021 available). Information available includes the grant applicant, award amounts, and project outcomes. This tool may be useful to:​​

  • Understand what types of projects our Program looks to fund
  • Find projects that may be similar to your proposal 
  • Learn how the WCMP and its grant program benefit local coastal communities here in Wisconsin
View the Story Map here​. Subscription not required to use the interactive map.​