On November 13, 1998, Congress enacted a law that allowed the city of Grand Haven, Michigan, to formally be called “Coast Guard City, USA” (Section 409 of P.L. 105-383). That law also provides for other cities, counties, and municipalities to be similarly designated “A Coast Guard City” or “A Coast Guard Community” at the discretion of the Coast Guard Commandant. The law requires a 90-day notice of intent from the Commandant to the two authorizing congressional committees whenever a new Coast Guard City is named. In this guidance, we will use the term “Coast Guard City” to apply to any eligible city, county, or municipality. Counties or municipalities selected for this designation would be named “A Coast Guard Community.”

The Coast Guard City program recognizes the communities that support Team Coast Guard across the nation. A city, municipality or county earns the distinction of being named “A Coast Guard City” by making special efforts to acknowledge the professional work of the Coast Guard men and women assigned to its area. Coast Guard Cities regularly reach out to Coast Guard personnel and their families and make them feel “at home at their home away from home.” The city’s efforts illustrate a longstanding and enduring relationship, with an emphasis on considerations the community has made for the members of the Coast Guard family.