Opportunity Information: Apply for NOAA NMFS AK 2023 2007767
The Alaska Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program is a competitive federal funding opportunity offered through the Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). For fiscal year 2023, the program is aimed at supporting practical, education-focused projects that strengthen marine resource knowledge and build workforce skills across Alaska and the broader region. The core purpose is twofold: first, to improve education and training related to marine resource issues, and second, to expand scientific education and career preparation for marine-related professions, especially for people who live in coastal communities where ocean and fisheries issues directly affect livelihoods and local economies.
This opportunity is listed as a discretionary grant competition under Funding Opportunity Number NOAA NMFS AK 2023 2007767, with assistance tied to CFDA (now commonly referred to as Assistance Listing) 11.452. NOAA plans to make roughly six awards, with an award ceiling of up to $50,000 per project. Funding is provided through either a grant or a cooperative agreement, meaning projects may be supported in a standard grant structure or in a format where NOAA expects more active involvement during the project period (for example, technical input, coordination, or collaboration consistent with federal cooperative agreement practices).
The program is designed to be widely accessible across sectors, reflecting the fact that marine education and workforce training often succeed through partnerships among schools, local governments, tribal entities, nonprofits, and industry. Eligible applicants include state, county, and city or township governments; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status and nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education); individuals; for-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses); and small businesses. This broad eligibility allows both community-rooted organizations and specialized training providers to apply, and it also leaves room for projects that connect formal education systems with hands-on training and real-world marine and fisheries needs.
The activity focus areas align with education, environment, and natural resources. In practical terms, that generally means projects should be centered on instruction, outreach, curriculum development, workshops, field training, or other structured learning experiences that help participants better understand marine resource challenges and opportunities. The emphasis on coastal community residents and marine-related professions suggests that NMFS is interested in efforts that do more than general awareness raising. Competitive projects are likely to demonstrate clear training outcomes, build relevant scientific or technical skills, and help people move toward jobs or roles connected to fisheries, marine science, marine stewardship, or related maritime industries.
Key dates for this competition show the opportunity was created on February 10, 2023, with an original closing date of April 22, 2023. Applicants would typically be expected to propose a project that is realistic in scope for a mini-grant level budget, with a clear plan for delivering education or training, identifying the intended audience, and explaining how the work will improve understanding of marine resource issues or increase access to scientific education for marine career pathways.Apply for NOAA NMFS AK 2023 2007767
- The Department of Commerce in the education, environment, natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Alaska 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 Feb 10, 2023.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 22, 2023. (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 $50,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 6 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, Individuals, For profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses.
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Alaska Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program (FY 2023) - FAQs
What is the Alaska Marine Education and Training Mini-Grant Program?
It is a competitive federal mini-grant opportunity that supports practical, education-focused projects designed to strengthen marine resource knowledge and build workforce skills across Alaska and the broader region.
Which federal agency is offering this funding opportunity?
The opportunity is offered through the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
What is the main purpose of the program?
The program has a two-part purpose: (1) improve education and training related to marine resource issues, and (2) expand scientific education and career preparation for marine-related professions, especially for people living in coastal communities where ocean and fisheries issues directly affect livelihoods and local economies.
Who is the program especially intended to benefit?
The emphasis is on supporting people who live in coastal communities and helping expand access to scientific education and career preparation for marine-related professions.
Is this a competitive grant or a non-competitive award?
This is a competitive discretionary grant competition.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is NOAA NMFS AK 2023 2007767.
What Assistance Listing (CFDA) is associated with this opportunity?
The assistance is tied to CFDA (now commonly referred to as an Assistance Listing) 11.452.
How many awards does NOAA plan to make?
NOAA plans to make roughly six awards.
What is the maximum award amount per project?
The award ceiling is up to $50,000 per project.
What type of federal funding instrument will be used?
Funding may be provided through either a grant or a cooperative agreement.
What is the difference between a grant and a cooperative agreement for this program?
Both are federal financial assistance mechanisms, but a cooperative agreement indicates NOAA expects more active involvement during the project period (such as technical input, coordination, or collaboration), consistent with federal cooperative agreement practices.
What kinds of organizations and applicants are eligible to apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Public and state-controlled institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
- Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status
- Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status (as long as they are not institutions of higher education)
- Individuals
- For-profit organizations (including those other than small businesses)
- Small businesses
Are individuals allowed to apply?
Yes. Individuals are listed as eligible applicants.
Can for-profit organizations apply?
Yes. For-profit organizations are eligible, including entities other than small businesses, and small businesses are also eligible.
Can nonprofit organizations apply if they do not have 501(c)(3) status?
Yes. Nonprofits without 501(c)(3) status are eligible as long as they are not institutions of higher education.
Are tribal governments eligible?
Yes. Federally recognized Native American tribal governments are eligible to apply.
What topic areas or activity categories does the program support?
The activity focus areas align with education, environment, and natural resources.
What types of projects are a good fit for this mini-grant?
Projects are expected to be practical and education-focused. Examples of project formats mentioned include instruction, outreach, curriculum development, workshops, field training, and other structured learning experiences that improve understanding of marine resource challenges and opportunities.
Does the program focus more on general outreach or on workforce training?
While education and outreach may be part of a project, the program emphasis suggests NMFS is looking for efforts that go beyond general awareness. Strong projects are likely to show clear training outcomes, relevant scientific or technical skill-building, and progress toward jobs or roles connected to marine-related professions.
What kinds of careers or professional pathways does the program aim to support?
The opportunity highlights marine-related professions and mentions pathways connected to fisheries, marine science, marine stewardship, and related maritime industries.
Is partnership-building across sectors encouraged?
Yes. The program is described as widely accessible across sectors and recognizes that marine education and workforce training often succeed through partnerships among schools, local governments, tribal entities, nonprofits, and industry.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The opportunity was created on February 10, 2023.
What was the application closing date for this competition?
The original closing date was April 22, 2023.
What should an applicant generally be prepared to include in a proposal?
Based on the description, applicants would typically be expected to propose a project that is realistic in scope for a mini-grant budget and includes a clear plan for delivering education or training, identifies the intended audience, and explains how the work will improve understanding of marine resource issues or increase access to scientific education for marine career pathways.
How should applicants think about project scope given the award size?
Because this is a mini-grant with a ceiling of $50,000 per project, proposals are expected to be realistic and focused, with achievable education or training activities and clear outcomes appropriate to that funding level.
What region does the program cover?
The program is described as supporting projects across Alaska and the broader region, with a particular emphasis on coastal communities.
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