Small Shipyards Can Apply for US Federal Grants

The U.S. Maritime Administration invites small shipyards to apply for a share of $9.45 million in federal funding to help enhance their efficiency & competitiveness.

The grants are available for capital and related improvement projects that foster efficiency and competitive operations; quality ship construction, repair and reconfiguration; and employee training.

According to the US Government’s ‘Federal Register’:
Grants under the Maritime Administration's Small Shipyard Grant Program may not be used to construct buildings or other physical facilities or to acquire land unless such use is specifically approved by the Maritime Administration as being consistent with, and supplemental to, capital and related infrastructure improvements. Grant funds may also be used for maritime training programs to foster technical skills and operational productivity in communities, the economies of which are related to or dependent upon the maritime industry. Grants for such training programs may only be awarded to “Eligible Applicants” as described below, but training programs can be established through vendors to such applicants.

Additional information is available in the Federal Register  or by contacting David M. Heller, Director, Office of Shipyards and Marine Engineering, Maritime Administration, Room W21-318, 1200 New Jersey Ave., S.E., Washington, DC 20590; [email protected]; phone: (202) 366–5737; or fax: (202) 366–6988.

Grants are limited to no more than 75 percent of the estimated improvement costs. Application packages must be received by 5:00 p.m. EST. on May 28, 2013.