Illinois Lake Michigan Charter Sportfishing CARES Act 2.0 COVID Relief Funding Opportunity — Deadline Extended!
Deadline Extended: IDNR is extending the application period for CARES 2.0 COVID-19 relief funding for eligible charter sportfishing businesses through December 31. Our goal in extending the application period is to provide more time to reach as many eligible charter sportfishing captains as we can who may be eligible to receive CARES relief funds.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced in October a COVID-19 relief funding opportunity through the CARES Act 2.0 for Illinois-resident* Lake Michigan Charter Sportfishing Operators (see eligibility update below). The program seeks to fund relief for those operators who experienced a greater than 35 percent loss in charter sportfishing revenue during the period of March 20, 2020 through June 30, 2020, due to the pandemic as compared to average revenue during the same eligible period the previous five years (2015–2019) or for two of three years immediately prior (2017–2019). Other qualifications and restrictions may apply. The application period for the program has been extended to December 31, 2021.
*Eligibility Update: Illinois DNR will now accept CARES Act 2.0 applications from non-resident Illinois permitted Charter Sportfishing Operators that operate out of an Illinois Lake Michigan port with an Illinois registered business. Previous eligibility requirements apply, except that a non-resident driver's license, Illinois fishing license and Illinois Lake Michigan Charter Sport Fishing permit may be submitted by non-resident applicants. Non-residents that apply for Illinois CARES 2.0 relief funds cannot apply for CARES II aid from another state. If you believe you may qualify for this CARES Act 2.0 funding opportunity, call the IDNR Lake Michigan Program office at 847-294-4143 for an application and additional information.
This funding opportunity is provided through a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, with participation by the IDNR.
(Note: Qualifying operators must be age 18 and older, have a 2021 Charter Sportfishing Permit and current Illinois fishing license)
