The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (Marad) announced yesterday that up to $684.3 million is now available for Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants.
The grants will be awarded on a competitive basis to projects that improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of goods into, out of, around, or within a port. This marks the most annual funding ever for PIDP and should help improve U.S. supply chains, speed up the safe, efficient, and reliable movement of goods, and ultimately work to make goods more affordable for Americans.
In February, Marad issued a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) announcing the availability of $450 million for the PIDP program under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The fiscal year 2022 Appropriations Act appropriated an additional $234.3 million in funding for the program and this money has been added to the NOFO.
The $684.3 million in funding for fiscal 2022 PIDP grants is the highest level of funding ever made available for the program. Projects that improve the movement of goods to, through, and around ports at coastal seaports, inland river ports, and Great Lakes ports are eligible to receive funding. In addition, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also expanded the list of eligible projects to explicitly include projects that reduce or eliminate port-related criteria pollutant or greenhouse gas emissions.
Overall, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest $17 billion in ports and waterways, as well as rebuild U.S. roads, bridges and rails; upgrade and expand public transit; modernize U.S. ports and airports; improve safety; and help tackle the climate crisis.
Applications for the grants are due on May 16, 2022, by 11:59 p.m. EST. Previously submitted applications can be revisited due to the amendment following the increase in funding.
To be eligible for a grant award, a project must meet all the requirements of the PIDP as described in the NOFO. For more information on the eligible projects, please visit here.
In other Marad news, the U.S. Senate on today confirmed Ann C. Phillips as its new administrator. She replaces Mark Buzby who resigned in January 2021. Phillips is a retired Navy rear admiral.
