Maritime Administration: Key Grant Programs
Agency Description
The Maritime Administration’s mission is to foster and promote the U.S. Merchant Marine and the American maritime industry to strengthen the maritime transportation system—including landside infrastructure, the shipbuilding and repair industry, and waterborne commerce—to meet the nation’s economic and national security needs.
MARAD supports programs that make ports and intermodal water and land transportation systems safe, efficient, and effective.
The agency prioritizes seamless integration with other methods of transportation, support for supply chains and freight, and preparedness—such as maintaining reserve shipping capacity in time of national emergency.
Competitive Grant Programs
Below are brief descriptions of MARAD grant programs.
For more information on these opportunities, follow the links in each description, which lead to individual grant program pages in the Grant Applicant Toolkit’s DOT Competitive Grants Dashboard, where you can search federal grant opportunities at USDOT and other federal agencies that can aid communities in meeting their transportation infrastructure needs.
Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) Grants
The Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) funds projects that improve the safety, efficiency, or reliability of loading and unloading goods and operating around or within ports, as well as environmental and emissions mitigation measures.
Learn more about this grant opportunity on the DOT Competitive Grants Dashboard’s Port Infrastructure Development Program page.
Small Shipyard Grants
The Small Shipyards Grant Program funds capital projects fostering more efficient and quality ship construction, repair, and reconfiguration, as well as worker training in shipbuilding and associated industries.
Learn more about this grant opportunity on the DOT Competitive Grants Dashboard’s Small Shipyards Grant Program page.
United States Marine Highway Program
The United States Marine Highway Program supports previously designated Marine Highway Projects to develop and expand documented vessels or port and landside infrastructure, strengthening American supply chains.
Learn more about this grant opportunity on the DOT Competitive Grants Dashboard’s United States Marine Highway Program page.