USDOT makes grant funding available for port projects

The U.S. Department of Transportation's (USDOT) Maritime Administration today announced nearly $450 million in newly available grant funding for port-related projects through the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP).

The grants can help ports expand capacity and improve the movement of goods through U.S. supply chains. This year's funding level is by far the largest amount available for PIDP grants, USDOT officials said in a press release.

PIDP grants are awarded on a competitive basis to support projects that will improve the movement of goods to, through and around ports. Furthermore, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) calls on applicants to explore ways to include projects that will improve goods movement while also strengthening resilience, reducing emissions and advancing environmental justice, USDOT officials said.

Grant applications are due May 16. The USDOT will host webinars to explain the PIDP grant application process.

The PIDP grants demonstrate continued action on commitments in the Biden-Harris administration’s Port Action Plan, which was proposed to strengthen supply chains to meet demand resulting from the rapid economic recovery over the past year, and help address inflationary pressures, USDOT officials said. The grants also meet policy recommendations in USDOT’s one-year supply chain report that is focused on improving the movement of goods from ships to shelves. That report is slated to be released Feb. 24.

"The historic investments made by the [IIJA] will help remove bottlenecks by enabling ports to expand capacity and improve intermodal connections," said Acting Maritime Administrator Lucinda Lessley. "The grant funds will also create new jobs across the U.S. maritime industry."