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Attorney: grants may be available; Coast Guard may seek use of port property; yacht-club litigation to be checked

Michigan City Port Authority Commission · February 11, 2026

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Summary

The port attorney summarized grant programs that might fund electrical or infrastructure work, said Coast Guard officials may request limited use of port property possibly requiring a memorandum of understanding, and said he will check the status of yacht-club litigation and report back at the next meeting.

At the Feb. 9 meeting the port attorney reported on potential grant sources for marina electrical upgrades and related improvements and said he will continue researching options. He discussed the Boating Infrastructure Grant program (BIG) administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through states and said that program appears limited to non‑trailerable recreational vessels 26 feet or longer that stay 15 days or less, which may limit the port's eligibility. He also said the Lake Michigan Coastal Program and the Lake and River Enhancement Program (LARE) could be possibilities and that he will do more research.

The attorney said U.S. Coast Guard officials have asked to use a small portion of port property adjacent to their fence, possibly for maintenance or parking, and that port staff and the attorney will meet with Coast Guard staff this week; any agreement may be presented to the board as a memorandum of understanding for review.

On pending litigation, the attorney said he intended to check filings related to the yacht-club survey dispute and will update the board at the next meeting; he apologized for not having completed that check in time for the current meeting.

The attorney observed that available grant programs are often targeted to transient recreational users and that any prorating between transient and nontransient beneficiaries would affect the amount the port could expect.