2026 Alaska Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), offers the Alaska Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program to support initiatives that strengthen marine-related education, workforce development, and sustainability across Alaska. NOAA is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce responsible for understanding and managing oceanic and atmospheric resources. This funding opportunity aligns with federal priorities to enhance seafood competitiveness, sustainability, and workforce readiness in marine industries, particularly within Alaska’s coastal communities. The primary purpose of this program is to fund projects that increase education, training, and workforce development opportunities in marine-related fields such as marine science, aquaculture, maritime operations, and fisheries management. Projects are expected to contribute to sustainable fishing practices, improve seafood safety and marketing, promote technological innovation in fishing, and enhance public awareness about marine resource sustainability. The program emphasizes partnerships among industry stakeholders, academic institutions, tribal entities, and community organizations to strengthen Alaska’s marine economy and workforce. Funding is available for projects ranging from 15000 to 75000 dollars, with a total program funding estimate of approximately 600000 dollars distributed over three years. Projects may span one to two years and must take place within Alaska. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. However, applicants must ensure that proposed budgets exclude unallowable costs such as fundraising expenses, unrelated travel, or profit. Funds are intended strictly for activities that directly support the project objectives during the approved performance period. Eligible applicants include individuals acting as legal entities, commercial organizations, nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and state, local, and tribal governments. Federal agencies and their employees are not eligible. Applicants are limited to submitting one application per fiscal year. All projects must be conducted in Alaska, and proposals must align with one of the program’s priority areas, including marine science and technology, fisheries training, outreach, traditional knowledge integration, or partnership development. The application process requires submission through Grants.gov and includes several mandatory federal forms such as the SF-424 series and CD-511 certification. Applicants must also prepare a structured proposal package consisting of a title page and project abstract, a detailed project narrative, a budget narrative, and supporting attachments such as resumes and letters of collaboration. Registration in federal systems including SAM.gov, eRA Commons, and Grants.gov is required prior to submission and may take several weeks to complete. Applications are reviewed through a competitive process involving initial screening, panel review by subject matter experts, and final selection by NOAA officials. Evaluation criteria include project relevance, technical merit, applicant qualifications, outreach effectiveness, and budget reasonableness. Projects are scored on a 100-point scale, and funding decisions may also consider geographic distribution, partnerships, and alignment with program priorities. The program operates on an annual cycle with application deadlines of June 22, 2026; May 3, 2027; and May 1, 2028. Awards are expected to begin no earlier than September 1 of each corresponding year. Applicants are encouraged to submit early to allow time for validation processes. Questions regarding the program may be directed to the Competition Manager via email at akr.grants@noaa.gov. This recurring funding opportunity provides ongoing support for strengthening Alaska’s marine workforce and promoting sustainable fisheries practices.

Align proposal clearly with one priority area; demonstrate strong partnerships; provide clear measurable outcomes; ensure budget justification is detailed and reasonable; submit early to avoid validation errors