The Working Waterfront Preservation Act establishes a federal grant program to help preserve and improve working waterfronts in coastal communities. The program, administered by the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, provides competitive grants to state and local governments, nonprofits, and fishing industry participants to fund projects like building or repairing docks, improving waterfront facilities, and protecting land used for commercial fishing, aquaculture, recreational fishing, and boatbuilding. Grant awards cannot exceed 50 percent of a project's total cost, and projects must be approved by state fishery management or coastal zone authorities and supported by community demand. The legislation authorizes $20 million annually for fiscal years 2024 through 2028 to fund these grants, with priority given to projects that have significant economic impact on local fishing and maritime industries and demonstrate long-term commitment to keeping waterfronts available for commercial use.
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