USC Sea Grant is currently accepting requests for proposals for two funding opportunities focused on marine debris. The National Sea Grant College Program announced the availability of approximately $19 million in these two federal funding opportunities to combat marine debris in coastal communities as part of President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These funding opportunities will allow NOAA to help coastal communities prevent and remove marine debris.
The two funding opportunities are:
- The Marine Debris Challenge Competition: The Challenge will include approximately $16 million in funding available to support innovative, transformational research-to-application projects that will address the prevention and removal of marine debris, with award periods of three years. This opportunity is open to any person or group within the United States or its territories, as well as tribal nations within those geographies. Applicants must submit proposals in partnership with a relevant Sea Grant Program.
- The Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions Opportunity: This Community Action funding will include approximately $3 million in funding available to support the creation of coalitions and partnerships to address marine debris prevention and removal. Applications for this opportunity must be submitted through a Sea Grant Program, and partnerships are encouraged.
Letters of intent and applications for both opportunities must be submitted through a Sea Grant Program. The USC Sea Grant Program encourages project partners with a geographic focus on Los Angeles County or Southern California to apply through the USC Sea Grant Program.
