$662m available in US Port Infrastructure Development Program

The PIDP investment is intended to modernize the nation’s ports and help strengthen supply chains, helping to reduce shipping time and costs. President Biden's infrastructure package provides $450m annually in funding for the program.

'America’s ports play a central role in our supply chains,' US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said. 'With [Wednesday's] announcement, we are helping make our ports safer, more efficient and more reliable — strengthening supply chains, reducing costs for the American people and positioning us for economic success.'

Eligible entities

The PIDP discretionary grants help eligible applicants including port authorities, states, local governments, indigenous tribal nations, counties and other eligible entities complete critical port and port-related infrastructure projects. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to support projects that improve the safety, efficiency or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports.

Addressing climate change, sustainability and emissions mitigation

MARAD will also consider how projects address climate change and sustainability, equity and workforce development objectives.

While these grants are aimed at the movement of goods, projects may involve environmental and emissions mitigation measures such as port electrification or electrification master planning.

Recent projects funded include the installation of fast-charging stations and other port electrification components and the development of a scalable plan for transitioning the port and local maritime industry to zero-emission technologies in Jacksonville, Florida.

April 28 application deadline

MARAD will host a series of webinars that describe PIDP requirements and the application process. The webinars will be announced here.

The deadline to apply is April 28. The notice of funding is available on Grants.gov.

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