Maine Sea Grant Program Development Funds
Forecasted
Maine Sea Grant Program Development Funds support researchers and project teams with pilot and proof-of-concept work that advances Maine’s coastal priorities and seeds larger funding proposals.
Funder: Maine Sea Grant
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (Fall application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Typically $1,000–$5,000 for projects lasting no more than 12 months
Summary: Supports pilot and proof-of-concept projects advancing Maine’s coastal priorities and seeding larger funding proposals.
Key Information: Applicants must have a Maine-based affiliation, and all project outputs must be freely available to the public.
Description
Maine Sea Grant allocates part of its annual budget to Program Development awards supporting pilot projects and proof-of-concept work. These awards seed ideas for later development into larger funding proposals while adding value to the program’s research, extension, education, and outreach efforts. Projects must align with Maine Sea Grant’s strategic goals and address issues relevant to Maine’s coasts and coastal communities.
The program favors novel methods or approaches, projects that leverage other funding and efforts, and work with the potential to produce meaningful outcomes. It also values timely responses to emerging issues, partnerships, outreach and engagement, and student training and professional development. Limited support is available for travel, workshops, and conferences, and a funding reserve supports responses to emergency issues.
