2021 Marine Education and Training Mini Grant Program | NOAA NMFS PIRO 2021 2006718

Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS PIRO 2021 2006718

The 2021 Marine Education and Training (MET) Mini-Grant Program is a competitive funding opportunity offered by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) within the Department of Commerce, focused on the Pacific Islands Region. The program is meant to support practical, community-centered projects that strengthen communication, education, and training around marine resource issues. A central goal is to broaden access to marine science learning and career pathways for people who live in coastal communities across the region, with an explicit emphasis on reaching indigenous Pacific islanders, Native Hawaiians, and other groups that have been historically underrepresented in marine-related professions.

This opportunity is listed as a discretionary program and can be funded through either grants or cooperative agreements, which generally means applicants may receive direct financial support and, depending on the award structure, could also coordinate with NMFS on project implementation. The funding falls under CFDA number 11.452 and is categorized within environment, natural resources, and science and technology (including research and development-related activities). The overall intent is not only to share information, but to improve how marine resource knowledge is taught, understood, and applied locally, helping communities build skills that connect to real marine management and stewardship needs in the Pacific Islands region.

Individual awards are relatively small by design, with a maximum (award ceiling) of $15,000 per project, making this a mini-grant program geared toward targeted, high-impact efforts rather than large, multi-year initiatives. NMFS anticipated making about 13 awards under this competition. The funding opportunity was created on November 17, 2020, and the original application deadline was February 10, 2021, indicating it was structured as a time-limited annual competition for fiscal year 2021.

Eligibility is noted broadly as "Others," with additional eligibility details referenced in the full notice text. In practice, this type of eligibility label typically signals that the program may be open to a range of applicants beyond standard categories, potentially including community organizations, educational entities, nonprofits, local groups, and other partners capable of delivering marine education and training activities aligned with NMFS priorities for the Pacific Islands. The key takeaway is that the program is designed to help coastal residents gain clearer, more usable information about marine resource issues and to increase scientific education and training opportunities that can support future marine-related employment and community leadership in ocean stewardship.

• The Department of Commerce in the environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "2021 Marine Education and Training Mini Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 11.452.
• This funding opportunity was created on Nov 17, 2020.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 10, 2021. (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 $15,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 13 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for NOAA NMFS PIRO 2021 2006718

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: