The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) will begin the second phase of the Equipment Modernization Grant Program and will start accepting applications through the LDWF online grant portal on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 9:00 AM CST. Program funding totaling $23.95 million will be available to the Louisiana commercial and charter fishing industry.
Funds for the program are part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) approved $58 million in federal funding to assist the state’s fishing industry with recovery efforts stemming from the historic 2019 flooding during the opening of the Bonnet Carré Spillway.
In order to allow sufficient time for applicants to apply for the program, the application process was divided into two phases. During the first phase, applicants are required to register for the online grant portal and complete an online application profile with required personal, business, and LDWF license information prior to submitting an application.
If not currently registered through the online application portal, LDWF encourages potential applicants to register before the application opening date. To access the LDWF online grant portal, please visit https://ldwffisheries-grants.intelligrants.com. In preparation for the online application process, applicants should review their profile, licenses and required documentation to verify all information is up-to-date and meets the program requirements. For a detailed list of required application documents, please visit https://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/page/equipment-grant-2023. An application checklist has been added to the website to provide details on how to complete the application. Applicants currently registered for the online grant portal will receive a notification to review the application checklist in preparation for the opening of the application on December 5th.
The application process will remain open until the number of applications received is expected to exhaust the available funding. Applications will be reviewed for eligibility and funding will be allocated in the order in which applications are received according to the date and time of application submission.
LDWF’s Equipment Modernization Grant Program is open to commercial fisherman, vessel owners, seafood docks, processors and charter captains in the saltwater fishing industry. Eligible applicants will not be required to provide a match and may receive up to $30,000 for reimbursement and purchase of updated and modern equipment to remediate impacts resulting from the influx of freshwater flooding.
Equipment reimbursed or purchased under the program must meet the program requirements and must be purchased on or after September 1, 2019 to be eligible for the program. Applicants who have not previously purchased equipment must have quotes approved before purchasing equipment and submitting receipts. Labor costs associated with reimbursement of equipment is capped at 15% of the total cost of the equipment and cannot exceed $4,500.
Those needing language assistance or assistance submitting an application may contact South Central Planning and Development Commission (SCPDC) at 1-800-630-3791.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is charged with managing and protecting Louisiana’s abundant natural resources. Help us protect your hunting and fishing heritage while preserving habitat, wildlife, and aquatic resources by purchasing your license at www.wlf.la.gov. To receive email or text alerts signup here.