Grant Page

Lake Superior Coastal Program logo.

Minnesota’s Lake Superior Coastal Program offers annual, federal-matching grant funds for projects that address coastal issues.

Grants are offered on a competitive basis, and are reviewed by the Governor's Council on Minnesota's Coastal Program, which makes recommendations on funding. Funding is from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM), pursuant to the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972.


Eligible grant applicants include:

  • Local units of government
  • State agencies
  • Nonprofits
  • School Districts
  • Colleges and Universities
  • Conservation Districts
  • Joint Powers Boards
  • Special Districts (e.g., sanitary sewer district)

Past Projects

Annual Grant Program (Section 306)

The Annual Grant program for Section 306 is targeted for studies, plans, research, administration, and education & interpretation projects that directly relate to Lake Superior coastal resources. All studies and design project sites must be located within the coastal boundary. The six funding categories are:

  • Coastal Land Use, Planning, and Development
  • Natural Resources Enhancement, Protection, and Management
  • Coastal Outreach and Education
  • Coastal Economic Activities and Analysis
  • Public Access and Recreation
  • Cultural and Historic Coastal Resources

Please note that the following types of projects are not eligible:

  • Projects that involve the moving or disturbance of dirt (includes plantings or permanent sign installation). Projects with any dirt-disturbing activities must follow 306A guidelines (see below).
  • Project that do not demonstrate a direct connection with protecting, restoring or enhancing coastal resources.
  • Purchase of recreational equipment.

Download grant application materials:

Annual Grant Program (Section 306A)

The Annual Grant program for Section 306A is targeted for land acquisition, low-cost construction, shoreline rehabilitation and modification to increase public access, engineering designs, report or specifications directly related to the construction of a project.

Section 306A applications must submit a Section 306A Project Checklist (provided in the 306A Application Packet) which includes:

The following types of projects are NOT eligible:

  • Large-scale hard structure erosion control projects.
  • Large-scale beach renourishment.
  • Infrastructure projects related to road, water and sewer line construction.
  • Improvements to private property or for other private enterprises
  • Project that do not demonstrate a direct connection with protecting, restoring or enhancing coastal resources.
  • Creation of wetlands (or other habitat restoration) that is required as a condition of a permit, for any wetland mitigation programs or for any other regulatory action.
  • Purchase of recreational equipment

Download grant application materials:

Short Term Action Request Grants (STAR)

Each year the Coastal Council allocates a limited amount of funds to serve short term, more immediate requests for grant dollars from the coastal community. STAR projects should be short in duration and small in scope.

Two categories are eligible:

  • Outreach & Education
  • Natural Resources Enhancement, Protection, and Management

STAR grants are only available for projects that will be finished within 6 months; no extensions are allowed. Requests cannot exceed $5,000, and projects must be matched at least 50/50 or 1:1. STAR grant funds are distributed on a reimbursement basis.

Resources for Granteees

Signage Guidance (768 KB) This is a PDF file. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download it.

Grant Contact Information

Karla Sundberg, Grant Specialist
Phone: (218) 834-6368
Fax: (218) 834-6639
email:




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