DOT’s Maritime Administration issues NOFO for Port Infrastructure Development Program

Earlier this week, a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was issued by the United States Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, which encourages states and port authorities to apply for $230 million in discretionary grant funding for port and intermodal infrastructure-related projects through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).

DOT officials explained that the PIDP supports the efficient movement of commerce upon which the economy relies upon, with grants awarded on a competitive basis to support projects that strengthen and modernize port infrastructure and support the nation’s long-term economic vitality.

DOT said the review process will also consider how proposed projects address climate change and environmental justice impacts and advance racial equity, reduce barriers to opportunity, and meet challenges faced by rural areas, all key priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration.  

“Our nation’s ports are a key part of our critical infrastructure. They create jobs and make our economy more resilient and sustainable,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, at a White House event focused on the development of offshore wind and energy programs. “This funding will build upon local investments in infrastructure to deliver long-term economic benefits to American workers and communities, while also addressing climate and equity.”

The Consolidated Appropriations Act 2021, made $230 million available for the Port Infrastructure Development Program, with $205 million reserved for grants to coastal seaports and Great Lakes ports, according to DOT. And it added that the minimum award size is $1 million, with a Federal cost-share not to exceed 80%, although the Federal cost share can be higher for certain categories of projects.

Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero recently told LM that it is imperative that U.S. ports continue to seek funding for the PIDP.

“The good news is that Congress has put some money towards it,” he said, in a November interview. “We will see where it goes, but there still needs to be negotiations between the Senate and the House to reach a common ground.”