Program Development

Maine Sea Grant Program Development Funds

Guidelines & Instructions for Applicants

This opportunity is open.

I. Guidelines for Program Development Funding

Each year Maine Sea Grant allocates part of its budget for Program Development funds. Typical awards are $1,000 – $5,000. The National Sea Grant Office allows state programs to award these funds to enhance their strategic goals. Proposed projects must align with Maine Sea Grant’s strategic goals and objectives, and applicants must express how the project will add value to Maine Sea Grant’s research, extension, education, and outreach efforts in the program’s current Strategic Focus Areas. Program Development awards are generally for pilot projects and proof-of-concept with the intent of seeding an idea for later development into larger funding proposals. Preference will be given to projects that develop novel methods or approaches, projects that leverage other funding and efforts, and projects that demonstrate the potential to generate meaningful outcomes and accomplishments. 

Proposals for use of these funds may also include travel and support for workshops or conferences, although less than 25% of the funds will be used in that manner. For this type of support, please reach out to our Assistant Director for Research prior to submission. Program Development awards may not be used to support PI salaries or indirect costs. Proposal budgets exceeding $5,000 should be discussed with Maine Sea Grant Assistant Director for Research prior to submission. All proposals are subject both to review, and to the availability of funds. An internal review panel will make decisions on Program Development awards.

II. Eligibility 

Requests for support through Maine Sea Grant Program Development awards will be considered as long as funds are available. Requests may be submitted by individuals affiliated with any Maine-based formal or informal academic or educational institutions, research laboratories, extension/outreach facilities, state or local agencies or organizations, or for-profit institutions or companies. Please note that any data, information, and/or technologies or other outputs resulting from such an award may not be considered proprietary. Maine Sea Grant requires active sharing, extension and educational efforts and outputs in conjunction with the award of program development funding and all results are subject to NOAA data sharing policies and must be made freely available to the public.

III. To Apply

Interested applicants are encouraged to share their ideas with Sea Grant staff members prior to submitting a request. Applicants should submit their final request using the InfoReady online application interface. Required elements for the proposals are outlined here.

How to Use InfoReady Review

  1. Login to the system using your University of Maine System Single Sign On (or created a registration if accessing this platform from outside of the UMS).
  2. Find and click on the Open Competition of interest (bottom left).
  3. Click “Apply” (top right of competition screen).
  4. Provide required Proposal details and attachments.
  5. Follow the competition-specific instructions regarding materials to down- or upload, or complete online.
  6. Save any unfinished work to be completed later.
  7. Complete and submit application before the deadline.

Application Status Updates

  • Look for automated application status emails.
  • Emails will come from the UMaine competition administrator, but message content will include “InfoReady Review” in the header.

IV. Considerations for Proposal Evaluation

The following will be taken into consideration to evaluate the feasibility and merit of project proposals:

  • Alignment with Maine Sea Grant strategic plan
  • Potential to result in measurable impact within the State of Maine
  • Timeliness of the proposed activity
  • Potential to leverage other funds
  • Proof of concept for further development
  • Commitment from other partners
  • Fostering relationships with other partners
  • Innovation and relevance to emerging issues
  • Potential for outreach and engagement
  • Opportunities for student training and professional development

V. Timing of decisions and distributions

To ensure that funds are available throughout the year, including a reserve for responding to emergency issues, Program Development proposals are evaluated and awards granted two times per year, according to the schedule below. This timeline may be waived in emergency situations demanding rapid response. Rapid response proposal ideas must be discussed with the Assistant Director for Research.

  • Deadline: November 18, 2025 11:59 pm

Generally, decisions on proposals are made within one month of submission and disbursements are made as soon as possible based on institutional requirements.

All field-based projects (research, outreach or education) require a completed National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance Questionnaire and copies of sampling licenses and permits (if applicable) at the time of proposal submission. Funding for field-based projects is contingent upon final NEPA approval which may take 6-10 weeks from the close of the competitions. Submission of a NEPA form is required at the time of application to expedite funds being disbursed.

Maine Sea Grant Program Development Proposal Guidance

[Print these instructions]

Applications are submitted using the InfoReady online application interface. Please be sure to allow ample time for online proposal completion and submission. During the online submission, be prepared to provide the following information:

Investigators (required): Names, affiliations, addresses, phone numbers, and emails of the principal investigator and co-principal investigators who will significantly contribute to the project. Partners and other collaborators can be included in a later section of the application. 

Project title (required): Exact title as it appears in the rest of the application. Please keep titles succinct.

Project duration (required): Please include the requested start date. Project duration is no more than 12 months, and funding is pending federal appropriations.  

Total amount of funding requested (required): Budget details will be uploaded in a separate section. 

Proposal narrative (required): NOTE: The proposal narrative will be uploaded as a single pdf and must be single-spaced using Times New Roman 12-point font with 1-inch margins on the top, bottom, and both sides of the page. There is a 3-page limit to the project narrative. Literature citations do not contribute to the 3-page limit. The narrative should be written for a nonspecialist, scientifically literate audience. Required elements include:

  1. Project description: Provide a brief background and introduction. Describe the project’s approach, objectives, and what will be accomplished. Please include enough detail to show innovation and the project’s relevance to emerging issues in Maine. Why is the general topic important to Maine coasts and coastal communities? Who are the interested parties impacted by the issue? What activities will you engage in during the project? How will these activities help further project goals? What is the timeline of project activities? 
  2. Alignment with Maine Sea Grant’s Strategic Focus Areas: Describe how this project is aligned with Maine Sea Grant’s goals and objectives. 
  3. Outreach Plan: Please describe the approaches you will take to ensure the results and outcomes of your project will be shared with relevant audiences in Maine or beyond, including a timeline for outreach activities.
  4. Partnerships: Who is on the team, and what are their responsibilities? Does the project provide opportunities for student training and professional development?
  5. Project Evaluation: How will you define success for the project? Applicants must describe anticipated outcomes and/or deliverables and how they may be applied to solving or better understanding problems and issues relevant to Maine Sea Grant’s mission. 
  6. Future plans: How might the project develop into a larger proposal/research project?

Curriculum vitae (required): (2-page maximum pdf per investigator) must be uploaded for each individual who will serve as PI or co-investigator in the project. (Please upload as a single pdf file). Indicate institutional affiliation and key professional details. 
Budget template (required): Budgets should adhere to the prescribed funding award of up to $5,000. Please indicate the requested amount (if applicable) in each of the following categories. (The form will be provided on InfoReady as part of the application process and submitted through InfoReady as part of the application package): 

  1. Salaries and Wages
  2. Fringe Benefits
  3. Supplies and Equipment
  4. Travel
  5. Publication and Documentation Costs
  6. Other costs (e.g., conference registration, workshops)
  7. Total Costs 

Budget justification (required): The budget narrative should provide sufficient detail to justify the amount allocated in each category that is applicable. For questions regarding project budgets, please contact Kevin Roberge, Maine Sea Grant Fiscal Officer.

Leveraged funds (optional): List sources of leveraged funds 

Letters of collaboration (optional):Letters confirming the extent of partner collaboration are encouraged. Appropriate and relevant letters of collaboration may be uploaded as a single PDF. Letters should describe collaborative contributions; how project results will benefit a community, industry, or agency; and/or how benefits will be derived from new products, methods, technology, or other outcomes. 

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) abbreviated environmental compliance questionnaire (required):The form, to be completed by the applicant, will be provided on InfoReady as part of the application process and submitted through InfoReady as part of the application package. All field-based projects (research, outreach or education) require a completed National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance Questionnaire and copies of sampling licenses and permits (if applicable) at the time of proposal submission. Please note that any Sea Grant funded fieldwork cannot commence until the necessary permits have been obtained and copies sent to Maine Sea Grant and the National Sea Grant Office. Funding for field-based projects is contingent upon final NEPA approval which may take 6-10 weeks from the close of the competitions. Submission of a NEPA form is required at the time of application to expedite funds being disbursed. Guidance on how to complete the questionnaire and examples of completed questionnaires can be found at https://seagrant.noaa.gov/funding/implementation/ by navigating to NEPA Compliance on the right bar. Maine Sea Grant can provide assistance and guidance with completing the NEPA Questionnaire.  Contact the Assistant Director for Research with questions or assistance.