{"status":200,"message":"Success","data":{"id":"934e662c-2c29-5b04-a9af-623c77636112","title":"Waterway Improvement Fund Program (WIP)","description":"The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Navigation Division administers the Waterway Improvement Fund to support waterway improvement projects including marking channels and harbors, clearing debris from waterways, dredging channels, constructing jetties, and building marine facilities that benefit the boating public. Projects that primarily benefit the general boating public may receive 100% grant funding; projects with limited public benefit may receive a 50/50 matching grant. For private community improvements, the State and County split the cost and the County is reimbursed by the established taxing district over up to 25 years. St. Mary's County facilitates the establishment of Special Waterway Improvement Taxing Districts so that residents can access these funds and repay the County's share of costs over time. Both public and private waterway improvement projects may be eligible.","status":{"value":"custom","customValue":"Recurring"},"source":"https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/DPW/SpecialTaxing","funding":{"details":"Grants of 100% are available for projects that significantly benefit the general boating public (e.g., harbors of refuge, anchorage, congestion relief, water access for fueling/repair/storage). 50/50 matching fund grants are available when the general boating public is not significantly benefited. The State and County share costs; the County is reimbursed by the established Taxing District over up to 25 years via interest-free long-term reimbursable loans. The maximum State allocation is $25,000 per year per project."},"acceptedApplicantTypes":[{"value":"individual"},{"value":"custom","customValue":"government"}],"customFields":{"agency":{"name":"agency","fieldType":"object","value":{"name":"Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Navigation Division"},"schema":"https://commongrants.org/custom-fields/agency"},"contactInfo":{"name":"contactInfo","fieldType":"object","value":{"phone":"(301) 475-4200"},"schema":"https://commongrants.org/custom-fields/contactInfo"},"additionalInfo":{"name":"additionalInfo","fieldType":"object","value":{"url":"https://compass.maryland.gov/incentives/#/incentive/waterway-improvement-fund","description":"Maryland Community Compass record"},"schema":"https://commongrants.org/custom-fields/additionalInfo"},"eligibilityCriteria":{"name":"eligibilityCriteria","fieldType":"object","value":{"beneficiaryTypes":[{"code":"individuals","name":"individuals"},{"code":"government","name":"government"}],"details":"Public and private waterway users and property owners in St. Mary's County seeking to improve local waterways and marine facilities for the benefit of the boating public.\n\nAvailable to eligible public and private waterway improvement projects in St. Mary's County, Maryland, along natural or artificial waterways (including the Chesapeake and coastal bays) accessible to the boating public. Eligible property must abut a natural or artificial body of water."},"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"attachments":{"name":"attachments","fieldType":"array","value":[{"downloadUrl":"http://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/docs/WIP-POLICYWebsite.pdf","name":"WIP-POLICYWebsite.pdf"},{"downloadUrl":"http://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/docs/WIP-Procedure.pdf","name":"WIP-Procedure.pdf"},{"downloadUrl":"https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/docs/WIP-POLICYWebsite.pdf","name":"WIP-POLICYWebsite.pdf"},{"downloadUrl":"https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/docs/WIP-Procedure.pdf","name":"WIP-Procedure.pdf"},{"downloadUrl":"https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/docs/WIP-POLICYWebsite.pdf?202307060933","name":"WIP-POLICYWebsite.pdf"},{"downloadUrl":"https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/docs/WIP-Procedure.pdf?202307060933","name":"WIP-Procedure.pdf"}],"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"fundingSource":{"name":"fundingSource","fieldType":"string","value":"Public","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"fundingInstrument":{"name":"fundingInstrument","fieldType":"string","value":"grant; loan","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"lastSyncedAt":{"name":"lastSyncedAt","fieldType":"string","value":"2026-10-17T08:01:17.880Z","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdCompassId":{"name":"mdCompassId","fieldType":"number","value":2557,"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdSlug":{"name":"mdSlug","fieldType":"string","value":"waterway-improvement-fund","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdDataQuality":{"name":"mdDataQuality","fieldType":"string","value":"medium","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdGeographicScope":{"name":"mdGeographicScope","fieldType":"string","value":"county","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdAcceptingApplications":{"name":"mdAcceptingApplications","fieldType":"boolean","value":false,"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdRecurring":{"name":"mdRecurring","fieldType":"boolean","value":true,"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdAssistanceTypes":{"name":"mdAssistanceTypes","fieldType":"array","value":["grant","loan"],"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdEligibleIndustries":{"name":"mdEligibleIndustries","fieldType":"array","value":["Any"],"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdEligibleCounties":{"name":"mdEligibleCounties","fieldType":"array","value":["St. Mary's"],"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdEligibleOrganizationTypes":{"name":"mdEligibleOrganizationTypes","fieldType":"array","value":["individuals","government"],"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdApplicationProcess":{"name":"mdApplicationProcess","fieldType":"string","value":"Submit a Letter of Interest (or petition signed by at least 75% of benefited property owners for private community improvements) to the St. Mary's County Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) to initiate the process. The program follows a 20-step procedural framework: (1) Letter of Interest submitted by 75% of property owners indicating District boundaries; (2) Letter forwarded to DNR requesting Need and Feasibility Report; (3) DNR prepares Need and Feasibility Report; (4) Public Informational Meeting scheduled and estimated costs presented; (5) Petition submitted by 75% of benefiting property owners; (6) County staff evaluates benefit value versus project cost; (7) Public Hearing held with County Commissioners to establish District by ordinance; (8) Preliminary designs developed, DMP site secured, permit applications submitted; (9) Waterway Improvement Fund Grant Application submitted to DNR with preliminary design; (10) DNR project priority established, funding requested for Legislative approval (larger projects may require multi-year funding); (11) Full project funding approved in County budget; (12) County designs project and prepares plans and specifications; (13) Project advertised and bid for construction; (14) Public Informational Meeting held to present probable costs; (15) Construction contract approved and awarded; (16) Construction completed; (17) County executes Waterway Improvement Fund reimbursable Loan Agreement; (18) Public Hearing held by St. Mary's County to fix the assessment (Levy Ordinance); (19) Board of County Commissioners fixes and levies benefit charges upon each lot in the District; (20) Future maintenance is the responsibility of the District. Contact St. Mary's County Department of Public Works at (301) 475-4200. Refer to the Special Taxing District Policy (PDF) and Procedures (PDF) for detailed steps.","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdProgramAudience":{"name":"mdProgramAudience","fieldType":"string","value":"Public and private waterway users and property owners in St. Mary's County seeking to improve local waterways and marine facilities for the benefit of the boating public.","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdUseOfFunds":{"name":"mdUseOfFunds","fieldType":"string","value":"Marking channels and harbors, clearing debris from waterways, dredging channels, constructing jetties, and building marine facilities beneficial to the boating public.","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdGeographicEligibility":{"name":"mdGeographicEligibility","fieldType":"string","value":"Available to eligible public and private waterway improvement projects in St. Mary's County, Maryland, along natural or artificial waterways (including the Chesapeake and coastal bays) accessible to the boating public. Eligible property must abut a natural or artificial body of water.","schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdRequirements":{"name":"mdRequirements","fieldType":"array","value":["For private community improvements, a petition from at least 75% of the benefited property owners is required to initiate the formal DNR Need and Feasibility review","Project must benefit the general boating public or meet criteria for 50/50 matching grant","Maximum state allocation is $25,000 per year per project","Project must comply with Natural Resources Article Section 8-707","The affected property owners must define the limits of a proposed Waterway Improvement District and prepare a Letter of Interest","A petition must be signed and submitted to the County by 75% of the properties which benefit from the proposed District","The petition must set forth the purpose of the District and enumerate the properties to be included","The petition must also include an affidavit concerning ownership of the property by each petitioner","Each parcel or lot of record shall have one vote; the vote of a parcel or lot will only be counted if all owners of that parcel sign the petition","The value of the benefit derived from a project should be shown to meet or exceed the cost of the project to the benefiting properties","Potential dredge material placement (DMP) sites should be identified by the community","Full project funding must be approved in the County budget","Future maintenance of the project is the responsibility of the District","Eligible property must abut a natural or artificial body of water","Methods of assessment acceptable to the County include: an amount equal to the ratio of assessed valuation of the property (not including improvements), or per lot/parcel of record (Equal Assessment Method)","Procedures must comply with county ordinances in Article 25, §3(r) of the Annotated Code of Maryland and other procedures required by law"],"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdSourceUrls":{"name":"mdSourceUrls","fieldType":"array","value":["http://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/DPW/SpecialTaxing"],"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"mdSourceCount":{"name":"mdSourceCount","fieldType":"number","value":1,"schema":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/docs"},"stateCode":{"name":"stateCode","fieldType":"string","value":"MD","description":"USPS code of the state whose agency offers this funding","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"agencyKey":{"name":"agencyKey","fieldType":"string","value":"dnr","description":"Portal key of the administering agency","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"agencyAbbrev":{"name":"agencyAbbrev","fieldType":"string","value":"DNR","description":"Administering agency abbreviation","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"upstreamSource":{"name":"upstreamSource","fieldType":"string","value":"maryland","description":"Upstream CommonGrants API this record is read from (src/data/state-portals/upstreams.json)","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"},"bindingMode":{"name":"bindingMode","fieldType":"string","value":"upstream","description":"Read from an upstream CommonGrants API; no editorial card yet","schema":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/schemas/state-portal-v1.json"}},"createdAt":"2026-08-03T15:25:59.674Z","lastModifiedAt":"2026-10-04T20:03:37.865Z","identifiers":{"otherIds":{"opp:maryland:system":{"registry":{"code":"opp:maryland:system","url":"https://md.api.cg.a6lab.ai/common-grants"},"id":"934e662c-2c29-5b04-a9af-623c77636112"}}},"funders":{"primary":{"id":"42536c33-b91d-5f66-963b-2b5b900a1c0a","name":"Maryland Department of Natural Resources","identifiers":{"otherIds":{"org:opengrants:funder":{"registry":{"code":"org:opengrants:funder","url":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/registries/org-opengrants-funder.json"},"id":"8556cb2d-09b9-417a-908b-d05419dbeb9c","allIds":[{"id":"8556cb2d-09b9-417a-908b-d05419dbeb9c","status":"active"},{"id":"c1f3f66f-19bf-4a85-a3e7-345d1f47f0c8","status":"active"},{"id":"d390ba3b-e626-4786-af29-083ae1dbf16d","status":"active"},{"id":"36afff7c-9ffb-45af-88d5-acad7bf052c5","status":"active"},{"id":"a19858de-caae-4dcb-9d71-67b981ec3cc3","status":"active"},{"id":"3de653ec-d838-46bc-b04b-49e94a66b9af","status":"active"},{"id":"1445fcf0-5ba3-4bf2-9a84-363d323a6f02","status":"active"},{"id":"906d2d68-f554-4b2a-9299-646c26454cb5","status":"active"},{"id":"42641978-0772-4845-ac37-6901ed4ac7fc","status":"active"},{"id":"0fb5494c-c723-4214-b5d7-e49f61345224","status":"active"},{"id":"c3801314-d667-41a3-b147-7b17be1838fa","status":"active"}]},"org:us:md:agency":{"registry":{"code":"org:us:md:agency","url":"https://opengrants.io/common-grants/registries/org-us-md-agency.json"},"id":"DNR"}}}}},"competitions":[],"awards":[]}}