- Granting Agency: U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration
- Appropriation Amount: $25,000,000
- Grant Amount: Up to $25,000,000
- Announcement Date: March 1, 2022
- Closing Date: April 29, 2022
Purpose: This program, funded by the BIL, makes grants available to previously designated Marine Highway Projects that support the development and expansion of documented vessels or port and landside infrastructure. The Department also seeks eligible grant projects that will strengthen American supply chains. The U.S. Department of Transportation (“DOT” or “Department”) will award Marine Highway Grants to implement projects or components of projects previously designated by the Secretary of Transportation (“Secretary”) under the AMHP. Only Marine Highway Projects the Secretary designates before the Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) closing date are eligible for funding as described in this notice.
Eligible Expenditures:
Implementation of projects or components of designated Marine Highway Projects that provide a coordinated and capable alternative to landside transportation or that promote marine highway transportation. The primary goal of the AMHP is to expand the use of the nation’s navigable waters to relieve landside congestion, reduce air emissions, and generate other public benefits by increasing the efficiency of the surface transportation system, and Marine Highway Grants will be awarded to further this purpose.
Eligible Applicants:
Eligible Applicants for funding available under this notice are original Project Applicants of projects that the Secretary has previously designated as Marine Highway Projects or substitute applicants. A substitute applicant can be either a public entity or a private-sector entity that has been referred to the Program Office by the original Project Applicant in a written letter of support. This letter of support must be included as an attachment to the application for funding. Original Project Applicants are defined as those public entities named by the Secretary in original designated projects. Eligible applicants must have operational or administrative areas of responsibility that are adjacent to or near the relevant designated Marine Highway Project. Eligible Applicants include State governments (including State departments of transportation), metropolitan planning organizations, port authorities, and tribal governments, or private sector operators of marine highway services within designated Marine Highway Projects. Private sector applicants should refer to Section D.2.vi.(G) for additional documentation that must be submitted to support an eligibility determination.
Eligible Applicants are encouraged to develop coalitions and public/private partnerships, which might include vessel owners and operators; third-party logistics providers; trucking companies; shippers; railroads; port authorities; state, regional, and local transportation planners; environmental organizations; impacted communities; or any combination of entities working in collaboration on a single grant application that can be submitted by the original Project Applicant or their designated substitute. All successful grant applicants, whether they are public or private entities, must comply with all Federal requirements, including the necessary NEPA review and documentation.
If multiple Eligible Applicants submit a joint grant application, they must identify in the application a lead Eligible Applicant as the primary point of contact. Joint grant applications must include a description of the roles and responsibilities of each applicant, including designating the one entity that will receive the Federal funds directly from MARAD, and must include a signed letter of support from each Eligible Applicant as an attachment.
Additional Resources for Applicants can be found in the NOFO. You can also contact program staff at 202-366-1123 or email Fred.Jones@dot.gov.