Federal Business and Commerce Grants

This funding opportunity provides financial support for research projects that improve understanding of climate variability in the Tropical Pacific, targeting institutions, non-profits, and governments involved in climate science and modeling.

The National Sea Grant College Program was enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1966 (amended in 2020, Public Law 116-221) to support leveraged federal and state partnerships that harness the intellectual capacity of the nations universities and research institutions to solve problems and generate opportunities in coastal communities. The American lobster (Homarus americanus) and its fishery continue to face significant environmental complexity and socio-economic uncertainty with far-reaching impacts for resource management and community resiliency. In 2022, the American lobster fishery landed approximately 119 million pounds of lobster worth $516 million dollars. This stands in stark contrast to the 2021 commercial harvest that landed 134 million pounds of lobster worth a record setting $924 million dollars. Recent surveys have detected a nearly 40% decline in young lobster recruitment from the important fishing areas of Georges Bank and the Gulf of Maine, signaling concern for the fisherys future and challenges for resource managers and lobster fishermen alike. While there are fluctuations each year that reflect environmental factors such as water temperature and economic conditions such as operational costs, the degree of volatility and uncertainty is without precedent. These impacts are particularly acute in the state of Maine, where approximately eighty percent of American Lobsters are landed each year and the lobster fishery is a major driver of the states marine economy and cultural identity. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commissions 2020 stock assessment indicated record high stock abundance for American Lobster in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank and continued declines in southern New England. Additional analyses of landing data from the state of Maine show a downward trend from a high in 2016 of 132 million pounds to an annual average of 102 million pounds between 2019 and 2021. As ecosystem changes persist and the Gulf of Maine continues to warm, it is imperative that research, data, and observations document change, inform gaps, and help communities prepare for the future state of the American Lobster fishery. The American Lobster fisherys sustainability relies not only on the ecological understanding of the species in the face of environmental change but also the economic resiliency of the industry and the communities supported by the fishery. Expanding uses of the marine environment and anticipated management changes will have significant implications for future harvests, alter business models and shift how and where the lobster industry operates. Understanding the economic and social systems impacted by these changes can enhance the industry and communities capacity for resilience to impending environmental and resource management changes by mitigating negative impacts and supporting emerging opportunities. Research approaches that examine social systems and economic implications of regulatory/management changes are needed to fill a critical knowledge gap and inform integrated approaches to these complex issues impacting the lobster fishery. These include economic impact assessments, policy analyses, dimensions of community well-being, workforce diversification, as well as informal and formal governance structures. In FY24, consistent with its mission to enhance practical use and conservation in order to create a sustainable economy and environment, Sea Grants American Lobster Research Program will fund projects that address priority research needs to enhance our understanding of and address impacts to this significant, complex and dynamic fishery. Projects that involve partnerships among industry, State agencies, and/or academia, including but not limited to cooperative research or co-production, are strongly encouraged. Topics suitable for investigation on American lobster and its fishery under this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) should have a geographic focus on the Gulf of Maine, Georges Bank, and/or southern New England and address one or more of the following funding priorities: Life history parameters under changing climate conditions, including but not limited to temperature, growth, and mortality Species distribution and abundance in response to environmental change, including but not limited to deep water settlement Impacts of environmental change and/or economic uncertainty on social systems, including but not limited to dimensions of community well-being, formal and informal governance structures, and workforce diversification Economic implications of policy and potential regulatory changes and/or other future resource management actions Sea Grant anticipates having up to $2 million dollars to fund a diversity of projects with funding requests up to $600,000 dollars in FY24. Projects may be one or two years in duration with a maximum of two years. All projects must take place within the United States or territories or their respective waterways. Applicant organizations must complete and maintain three registrations to be eligible to apply for or receive an award. These registrations include SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and eRA Commons. All registrations must be completed prior to the application being submitted. The complete registration process for all three systems can take 4 to 6 weeks, so applicants should begin this activity as soon as possible. If an eligible applicant does not have access to the internet, please contact the Agency Contacts listed in Section VII for submission instructions. Prior to registering with eRA Commons, applicant organizations must first obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) from SAM.gov, if needed (refer to Section IV. Applications and Submission Information, Section C). Organizations can register with eRA Commons in tandem with completing their full SAM and Grants.gov registrations; however, all registrations must be in place by time of application submission. eRA Commons requires organizations to identify at least one Signing Official (SO) and at least one Program Director/Principal Investigator (PD/PI) account in order to submit an application. This document sets out requirements for submitting to NOAA-OAR-SG-2024-25871.

This funding opportunity supports projects that foster educational, cultural, and technological collaborations between the U.S. and Qatar, targeting nonprofits, educational institutions, and individuals focused on youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

FY2025 Weather Program Office Research Programs Announcement - Observations aims to fund innovative research projects that develop and enhance sensor and observation technologies to improve the accuracy and reliability of weather forecasts, particularly in high-impact weather scenarios.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for Kuwaiti non-profits, educational institutions, and individuals to create projects that strengthen cultural and educational ties between the United States and Kuwait.

This competition provides funding and support for teams developing innovative high-temperature seismic sensors to improve geothermal energy monitoring and enhance the understanding of subsurface conditions.

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations to establish centers that support the development and growth of cooperatives in rural areas, enhancing economic conditions and job creation.

This funding opportunity supports youth-led conferences and workshops across the Pacific region, aimed at empowering emerging leaders aged 25 to 40 to collaboratively tackle critical regional challenges in areas such as security, food supply, digital media, and public health.

This funding opportunity provides financial support for nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and cultural groups to implement programs in Mozambique that promote education, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange while fostering U.S.-Mozambique shared values.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to U.S.-based small businesses that have previously received Phase I awards to further develop and commercialize innovative research in agriculture, food systems, and environmental sustainability.

This grant provides funding to early-career researchers focused on developing and applying Earth system models to address urgent climate challenges and promote diversity and inclusion in climate science.

This funding opportunity provides small grants to organizations and individuals in Sierra Leone for projects that promote cultural, educational, and civic engagement, fostering collaboration and mutual understanding with the United States.

This funding opportunity supports U.S.-based small businesses in developing and manufacturing therapeutic extracellular vesicles for regenerative medicine applications, focusing on tissue and organ repair.

This grant provides funding to seafood processors for expanding their capacity to process invasive wild-caught catfish, supporting rural economic development and environmental sustainability.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations that assist veterans in starting and growing their own businesses through training, counseling, and management assistance.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to small businesses that have previously received a Phase I grant to further develop their innovative research and commercialization plans in areas aligned with NOAA's mission.

Under 15 U.S.C. 649(l), the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) authorizes the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to make grants to States, and the equivalent thereof, to carry out projects that help develop exports by eligible small business concerns (ESBCs) (as defined in Section 8.1.5). The objective of STEP is to increase (1) the number of U.S. small businesses that export, (2) the dollar value of exports, and (3) the number of U.S. small businesses exploring significant new trade opportunities (as defined in 8.1.15).

This funding opportunity supports collaborations between Sea Grant programs and Minority Serving Institutions to enhance aquaculture research, education, and community engagement across four U.S. regions.

This grant provides funding and technical support to innovators and organizations developing sustainable solutions for reusing and repurposing end-of-life products, promoting a circular economy and reducing waste.

This funding opportunity supports organizations that empower women in El Salvador by providing professional development programs to enhance their business skills and promote economic growth.