RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program

The U.S. Department of the Treasury administers the RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Research Grants Program, established under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012. This program directs funds from the Gulf Coast Restoration Trust Fund, created in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, toward long-term ecological and economic recovery in the Gulf Coast region. Specifically, Treasury allocates resources for establishing and supporting Centers of Excellence in eligible states, with the aim of advancing science, technology, and monitoring in disciplines that strengthen resilience, sustainability, and economic opportunities along the Gulf of Mexico. The program’s purpose is to foster high-quality research and innovation through competitive subawards made by Gulf Coast states to nongovernmental entities and consortia, including public and private institutions of higher education. Each Center of Excellence must focus on at least one of five areas: coastal and deltaic sustainability and protection; fisheries and wildlife ecosystem research and monitoring; offshore energy development with emphasis on sustainable practices; sustainable and resilient economic growth in the Gulf Coast region; or comprehensive observation, mapping, and monitoring of the Gulf of Mexico. By concentrating expertise in these fields, the program aims to advance both environmental stewardship and economic development. Allowable uses of funds include establishing and maintaining Centers of Excellence, supporting scientific research, conducting monitoring programs, and developing technologies that contribute to ecological restoration and sustainable resource management. Administrative costs are limited under the RESTORE Act provisions, and grantees must adhere to compliance and monitoring requirements. No cost-sharing or matching contributions are required, making the program fully federally funded. States are responsible for ensuring compliance with subaward agreements and must submit reports annually to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council. Eligible applicants are restricted to state governments within the Gulf Coast region, specifically Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. These states act as primary recipients and issue competitive subawards to eligible institutions. Nongovernmental research entities and consortia within the Gulf Coast region may participate as subrecipients, broadening participation to universities and research institutions. This structure ensures funds remain dedicated to regional capacity building and long-term resilience in coastal and offshore systems. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis while funds remain available, with the current funding opportunity closing on October 31, 2026. Treasury may extend the program or issue new announcements depending on fund availability. Applicants must use the Grants.gov portal for submission, and state entities administering subawards are required to establish transparent compliance monitoring. Contacts for assistance include the RGMS Help Desk for system-related issues and the Office of Gulf Coast Restoration for programmatic inquiries via restoreact@do.treas.gov. Awards are expected to range between approximately $5.7 million and $14.5 million per recipient, with about five awards anticipated under this announcement. The program is tied to long-term restoration goals and funding availability from the Trust Fund, so timelines for awards may vary. Performance periods are tied to approved projects and research timelines determined by each Center of Excellence. As a continuing program under RESTORE Act authority, the Centers of Excellence initiative is expected to recur annually until the Trust Fund is fully expended, with future rounds aligned to the Treasury’s assessment of needs and available resources.