The Maritime Administration (MARAD) plans to award nearly $450 million in grants through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) for port-related projects that help ports expand capacity and improve the movement of goods through the supply chain.
At nearly double last year’s figure, this marks the largest investment in the program’s history. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will invest $17 billion in ports and waterways.
“The historic investments made by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help remove bottlenecks by enabling ports to expand capacity and improve intermodal connections,” Acting Maritime Administrator Lucinda Lessley said. “The grant funds will also create new jobs across the U.S. maritime industry.”
PIDP grants support projects that will improve the movement of goods to, through, and around ports. They are awarded on a competitive basis. Under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, applicants must explore ways to improve goods movement while strengthening resilience, reducing emissions, and advancing environmental justice.
The grants also meet policy recommendations in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s one-year supply chain report. The report focuses on improving the movement of goods from ships to store shelves.
The department will host a series of webinars explaining the program’s grant application process. The application deadline is May 16.