United States Marine Highway Grants (20.816)
United States Marine Highway Grants (Assistance Listing 20.816) is run by the Maritime Administration, part of the Department of Transportation. It awarded $74.9 million in 32 grants from fiscal 2021 to 2025, about $2.3 million per award on average. No funding opportunity is open on Grants.gov right now.
The typical award was $1.1 million. Half of the 32 awards fell between $600,000 and $2.8 million, and they ranged from $89,994 to $24.4 million.
- Awarded, FY 2021 to 2025$74.9 million
- Grant awards32
- Typical award$1.1 million
- Awarded in FY 2025$14.7 million
- Size rank893 of 1824
- Type of assistanceCooperative agreements, project grants
Key findings
- Annual funding rose from $4.7 million in fiscal 2021 to $14.7 million in fiscal 2025.
- It is the 893rd largest of 1,824 federal grant programs by five-year awards.
- The 20 largest recipients received 94% of the money.
- Awards went to recipients in 22 states and territories.
What the program funds
Mitigate landside congestion, expand transportation options, and realize public benefit and external cost savings by awarding Marine Highway grants to qualified applicants to implement designated Marine Highway projects.
Open opportunities
No opportunity under this program is open or forecast on Grants.gov right now. Programs often post once a year, so the funding history below shows what to expect.
Rules from the program listing
Who can apply
Eligible applicants include states, Political subdivision of a State or a local government, United States metropolitan planning organization, United States Port Authority, Tribal government, United States private sector operators of marine highway projects or private sector owners of facilities, including an Alaska Native Corporation. Private applicants require an endorsement letter from the current marine highway route sponsor.
What the money can and cannot pay for
Eligible projects for Marine Highway Program grants are Marine Highway Transportation Projects or components of Projects that 1) provide a coordinated and capable alternative to landside transportation; mitigate or relieve landside congestion; promote marine highway transportation; or use vessels documented under Chapter 121; and 2) develop, expand, or promote Marine Highway Transportation or shipper use of Marine Highway Transportation. This program will not provide funding to improvements to port or land-based infrastructure, including equipment, outside the United States. In addition, this program will not provide funding to raise sunken vessels, construct buildings or other physical facilities, or acquire land, unless the Secretary determines that such activities are necessary to carry out the Marine Highway Transportation Project for which such assistance is provided. If an applicant requests funding to raise sunken vessels, construct buildings or other physical facilities (as “facility” is defined in Section A.3.), or acquire land, it must explain why the activities are necessary to carry out the Marine Highway Transportation Project. Refer to Section D.2.b. of this notice for further information on documentation needed to justify these activities. Improvements to Federally owned facilities are ineligible under the FY 2024 USMHP.
Matching requirements
Statutory Formula: Title 2, Part C, Subpart 200.48,Public Law Pub. L. 118-31, December 22, 2023.Statutory Formula: Title Chapter Part Subpart Public Law 114-113Statutory Formula: Title Chapter Part Subpart Public Law 114-113 Matching Requirements: 20% The Secretary may increase the Federal share of costs above 80 percent for a grant to a Tribal government for a Project that is located in a rural area. Additionally, for grants to American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands, MARAD will waive any cost share requirement for local matching funds under $200,000 (including in-kind contributions). Matching requirements are voluntary.MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Award range and average, in the agency's words
64 projects have been funded totaling $101.4 million. Range from $96,000 to $5,550,000.
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal Year2016: Did not award projects in FY2016. Fiscal Year2017: Port New York/New Jersey—Training Infrastructure for New York Harbor Container and Trailer for Barge Services; Commonwealth of Virginia – Richmond Marine Terminal Barge Service OptimizationFiscal Year2022: Marine Highway Grants for the development and expansion of documented vessels, and port and landside infrastructure. 1. Port and landside infrastructure including material handling equipment such as forklifts, cranes, container handlers, as well as terminal equipment such as wharves, docks, terminals and paving, etc., 2. Efficiency or capacity improvements in ports, terminals, aboard vessels and intermodal connectors, etc., 3. Investments that improve environmental sustainability, 4. New or used vessel purchase, lease, or modification, and 5. Planning, preparation and design efforts in support of Marine Highway Projects (However market related studies are ineligible to receive Marine Highway Grants
Funding history and past recipients
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, United States Marine Highway Grants (20.816) awarded$74.9 million across 32 grant awards, an average of $2.3 million per award.
Who usually wins
State and local governments received 84% of the money, businesses 16% and nonprofits 0.5%.
| Recipient type | Awards | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| State and local governments | 21 | $62.7 million | 84% |
| Businesses | 9 | $11.8 million | 16% |
| Nonprofits | 2 | $397,829 | 0.5% |
By state
14 states have a page for this program: those that received at least $1 million or 10 awards.
| State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 1 | $24.4 million |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $7.2 million |
| Louisiana | 2 | $5.8 million |
| Guam | 1 | $5.7 million |
| Washington | 4 | $5.5 million |
| Texas | 2 | $5.0 million |
| Arkansas | 1 | $2.9 million |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $2.8 million |
| Indiana | 2 | $2.8 million |
| North Carolina | 1 | $2.4 million |
| Illinois | 2 | $2.0 million |
| Oregon | 1 | $1.6 million |
| Florida | 1 | $1.3 million |
| Michigan | 1 | $1.1 million |
| Alaska | 1 | $944,804 |
| New Jersey | 2 | $827,744 |
| Missouri | 1 | $778,350 |
| Delaware | 1 | $600,000 |
| Ohio | 1 | $600,000 |
| Virginia | 2 | $315,771 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $200,475 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $97,829 |