Opportunity Information: Apply for 693JF725R000009
The Fiscal Year 2025 United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP) grant opportunity is a discretionary federal funding program run by the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Maritime Administration (MARAD). It is rooted in federal law at 46 U.S.C. 55601 and traces back to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which set out to reduce pressure on highways and other overburdened land transportation corridors by designating Marine Highway Routes and encouraging greater use of water-based freight movement. In practical terms, the program is designed to shift some cargo that would otherwise move by truck or rail onto marine services, helping relieve landside congestion while strengthening marine freight options.
The statute authorizes DOT to award grants to implement projects, or specific components of projects, that advance marine highway transportation in two main ways. First, funded projects should provide a coordinated and capable alternative to landside transportation, with the goal of mitigating or relieving congestion and promoting marine highway transportation. This can include projects that use vessels documented under 46 U.S.C. chapter 121, which generally refers to U.S.-documented vessels operating under U.S. documentation requirements. Second, projects are expected to develop, expand, or promote marine highway transportation itself, including efforts that increase shipper use of marine highway services. The emphasis is not only on infrastructure or equipment, but also on practical implementation steps that make marine options more viable for the market and easier for shippers to adopt.
This opportunity is published under Funding Opportunity Number 693JF725R000009, with a Funding Activity Category of Transportation and a CFDA (now often referenced as Assistance Listing) number of 20.816. The funding instrument is a grant. The program anticipates making approximately 25 awards, and the listed award ceiling is $14,042,621, indicating the maximum amount that could be awarded for a single grant under this notice (actual award sizes may vary depending on project scope, available appropriations, and DOT selections).
Eligibility is broad and includes many types of public and private organizations that are positioned to develop or implement marine highway projects. Eligible applicants include state governments, county governments, cities or townships, special district governments, and independent school districts. Tribal governments that are federally recognized are eligible, as are tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments. The opportunity is also open to nonprofit organizations, including both 501(c)(3) nonprofits and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status, as long as they are not institutions of higher education. On the private-sector side, for-profit organizations are eligible, including small businesses and for-profit entities other than small businesses. This structure reflects the program's real-world purpose: marine highway services often depend on partnerships that involve port and local government stakeholders, private marine operators, logistics providers, and other implementers.
Key dates included in the notice show the opportunity was created on May 16, 2025, and has an original application closing date of July 15, 2025. Applicants considering submission should pay close attention to the deadline and build in time for registrations and any required forms, since federal submissions often require multiple steps and validation before an application is accepted.
Overall, the FY 2025 USMHP grant opportunity is meant to accelerate projects that make waterborne freight a more practical, coordinated alternative to congested land routes. Successful proposals will typically be those that clearly connect project activities to measurable congestion relief and demonstrable expansion or increased use of marine highway transportation, whether through service improvements, operational enhancements, targeted capital items, market development, or other implementable components that directly support shifting freight onto marine corridors.Apply for 693JF725R000009
- The Maritime Administration in the transportation sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year 2025 United States Marine Highway Program (USMHP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 20.816.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2025-05-16.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-07-15. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $14,042,621.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 25 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal:
Browse more opportunities from the same category: Transportation
Next opportunity: A Research Study of Contaminants in School Meals (U18)
Previous opportunity: FY2025 ABPP - Preservation Planning Grants
Applicant Portal:
Are you interested in learning about about how to apply for this government funding opportunity? You can create a free applicant account and receive instant access to our applicant portal that many business owners like you have benefited from.
Apply for 693JF725R000009
Applicants also applied for:
Applicants who have applied for this opportunity (693JF725R000009) also looked into and applied for these:
| Funding Opportunity |
|---|
| FY2025 Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Program (CMVOST) Apply for FM DTG 25 002 Funding Number: FM DTG 25 002 Agency: DOT-Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $200,000 |
| FY2025 High Priority Program-Commercial Motor Vehicle (HP-CMV) Apply for FM MHP 25 004 Funding Number: FM MHP 25 004 Agency: DOT-Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $46,600,000 |
| FY2025 High Priority Program – Innovative Technology Deployment (HP-ITD) Apply for FM MHP 25 005 Funding Number: FM MHP 25 005 Agency: DOT-Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| FY2025 Commercial Driver's License Program Implementation (CDLPI) Apply for FM CDL 25 003 Funding Number: FM CDL 25 003 Agency: DOT-Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $89,400,000 |
| FY23 CDS-CRISI Congressionally Directed - Midwest OK Industrial Rail Spur Development Apply for FR CRS 24 002 Funding Number: FR CRS 24 002 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $3,000,000 |
| FY25 National Network Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation Apply for FR AMT 25 008 Funding Number: FR AMT 25 008 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $698,379,388 |
| FY25 Northeast Corridor Cooperative Agreement to the National Railroad Passenger Corp Apply for FR AMT 25 007 Funding Number: FR AMT 25 007 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $617,382,665 |
| Development of Fiscal Year 2026 Commercial Vehicle Safety Plans to Support National Safety Goals Apply for FM MCG 26 001 Funding Number: FM MCG 26 001 Agency: DOT-Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $52,000,000 |
| FY24-CRISI Congressionally Directed-Kansas Transload Facility Apply for FR CCD 24 006 Funding Number: FR CCD 24 006 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $5,366,000 |
| FY25 Short Line Safety Institute Program Apply for FR RRD 25 001 Funding Number: FR RRD 25 001 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $2,500,000 |
| Grants for Transportation in Highly Rural Areas Apply for VA HRTG NEW 2025 Funding Number: VA HRTG NEW 2025 Agency: VHA Member Services-Veterans Transportation Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| Grants for Transportation in Highly Rural Areas Apply for VA HRTG 2025 Funding Number: VA HRTG 2025 Agency: VHA Member Services-Veterans Transportation Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $50,000 |
| FY24 Ettrick Passenger Rail Station Improvements Apply for FR CCD 24 007 Funding Number: FR CCD 24 007 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
| FY25 Rail Safety Innovations Deserving Exploratory Analysis (Rail Safety IDEA) Apply for FR RRD 25 002 Funding Number: FR RRD 25 002 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $500,000 |
| Innovative Finance and Asset Concession (IFAC) Grant Program Apply for DOT OST 2025 0033 Funding Number: DOT OST 2025 0033 Agency: 69A345 Office of the Under Secretary for Policy Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $2,000,000 |
| FY23-New Haven Line Track Speed Improv Phase 1(Time)-Congressionally Dir Apply for FR CCD 23 011 Funding Number: FR CCD 23 011 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $12,000,000 |
| FY25 Transportation Emergency Response Training Apply for FR SEC 25 001 Funding Number: FR SEC 25 001 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $150,000 |
| FY24-25 Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant Program - National Apply for FR FSP 25 006 Funding Number: FR FSP 25 006 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $5,070,784,989 |
| FY26-23-CCD-New_Haven_Line_Improvements New Haven Line - Track Speed Improvement Phase 1 Apply for FR CCD 23 012 Funding Number: FR CCD 23 012 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $12,000,000 |
| FY24 CRS Congressionally Directed Spending-Morgan Hill Grade Separations Project in Morgan Hill, CA Apply for FR CCD 24 008 Funding Number: FR CCD 24 008 Agency: DOT - Federal Railroad Administration Category: Transportation Funding Amount: $1,000,000 |
Grant application guides and resources
It is always free to apply for government grants. However the process may be very complex depending on the funding opportunity you are applying for. Let us help you!
Apply for Grants
Inside Our Applicants Portal
Access Applicants Portal
- Grants Repository - Access current and historic funding opportunities with ease. Thousands of funding opportunities are published every week. We can help you sort through the database and find the eligible ones to apply for.
- Applicant Video Guides - The grant application process can be challenging to follow. We can help you with intuitive video guides to speed up the process and eliminate errors in submissions.
- Grant Proposal Wizard - We have developed a network of private funding organizations and investors across the United States. We can reach out and submit your proposal to these contacts to maximize your chances of getting the funding you need.
Premium leads for funding administrators, grant writers, and loan issuers
Thousands of people visit our website for their funding needs every day. When a user creates a grant proposal and files for submission, we pass the information on to funding administrators, grant writers, and government loan issuers.
If you manage government grant programs, provide grant writing services, or issue personal or government loans, we can help you reach your audience.
Learn More
Request more information:
Would you like to learn more about this funding opportunity, similar opportunities to "693JF725R000009", eligibility, application service, and/or application tips? Submit an inquiry below:
Don't forget to subscribe to our grant alerts mailing list to receive weekly alerts on new and updated grant funding opportunities like this one in your email.