Harbor Assistance Program

In 1979, Wisconsin’s Legislature created the Harbor Assistance Program (HAP) to assist harbor communities along the Great Lakes and Mississippi River in maintaining and improving waterborne commerce. Port projects typically include dock reconstruction, mooring structure replacement, dredging, and the construction of facilities to hold dredged material. In years when funding is available, the deadline to submit a grant application is August 1.

There are 29 ports in the state that are potentially eligible for funding through the HAP.

• Harbor Assistance Program (HAP) funding from 1980 to present

To be eligible for funding:

• The project must benefit facilities that are used for cargo transfer, ship building, commercial fishing or regular ferry service.
• The applicant must be a local unit of government or a private owner of a harbor facility.
• The project must pass a rigorous benefit-cost analysis.
• The project must have been identified in a current Three-Year Harbor Development Plan.

Project selection criteria are spelled out in Section 85.095, Wis. Stats. and Wis. Admin. Code TRANS 28 and include the following: economic impact of the project; type and urgency of the project; and priority of the project.

The following documents are available for HAP candidates:

• Program guidelines
• Harbor Assistance Program Application (DT1688)
• Environmental Screening of Harbor Facilities Development Actions (DT2031)
• Three year harbor development statement of intentions
• Draft resolution document

For additional information, please contact:

Mike Halsted
Harbors & Waterways Program Specialist
Wisconsin Department of Transportation
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI 53705-7915
(608) 264-8426
michaels.halsted@dot.wi.gov