Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions & Marine Debris Challenge Competition

The National Sea Grant Office has released two new funding opportunities supported by the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act related to marine debris prevention and removal: Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions & Marine Debris Challenge Competition. Further information on these two funding opportunities is provided below

Please review this information carefully, as it includes important details on eligibility and the application process, which is different for each opportunity. 

1. Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions

The National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) anticipates approximately $3,000,000 (with a maximum request of $300,000) to support the creation of coalitions and partnerships among communities, groups, and localities, especially those that have been traditionally underserved, to address marine debris prevention and removal.

  • Proposals for this opportunity must be submitted by a Sea Grant program. If you are interested in collaborating on a proposal with Maine Sea Grant, please reach out to Jessica Jansujwicz to discuss project ideas. Please note: Sea Grant staff members are expected to have substantial involvement in both proposal development and project implementation. As such, Maine Sea Grant will review project ideas internally against our strategic plan and available staff capacity to determine if we are able to partner with entities on potential project ideas.
  • Application Due Dates: Draft letters of intent due to the Maine Sea Grant Program by December 8, 2023, so Maine Sea Grant can review them and submit final letters of intent to the National Sea Grant Office by December 14, 2023 (Maine Sea Grant internal draft deadline will be January 26, 2024 for a full proposals submission to Grants.gov by March 5, 2024).
  • Webinar: An optional webinar will be held to answer questions pertaining to this funding opportunity on October 2 at 4:00 pm ET. Please register here.

2. Marine Debris Challenge Competition

The National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) anticipates approximately $16,000,000 (with a maximum request of $3,000,000) to support original, innovative, and transformational marine debris prevention and removal research that pushes the boundaries of existing technologies and approaches, changes the current landscape of marine debris mitigation, and ties that research to tangible outputs. 

  • Eligible Applicants: This opportunity is open to any person or group within the United States or its territories, as well as tribal nations within those geographies. Please Note: Applicants must submit proposals in partnership with a relevant Sea Grant program, but Maine Sea Grant is not required to be the primary applicant, or serve as the proposal PI, or a Co-PI on the project. Please reach out to Jessica Jansujwicz  to discuss your project ideas, and potential partnerships with Maine Sea Grant staff. Applicants and awardees from the FY22 National Sea Grant Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Marine Debris Challenge Competition are eligible to apply for these funds.
  • Application Due Dates: Letters of intent due to NSGO by January 31, 2024. Application materials due to Grants.gov by January 31, 2024 (Full proposals are due to grants.gov March 27, 2024; for UMaine applicants ORA will need draft materials by February 9).
  • Webinar: An optional webinar will be held to answer questions pertaining to this funding opportunity on October 3 at 4 pm ET. Please register here.