The Small Shipyard Grant Coalition recently announced that with Trump’s signing of the fiscal year 2026 federal appropriations bill, the federal government has completed all funding disbursements for fiscal year 2026, including $35 million in grants to the Maritime Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) Small Shipyard Grants program.
Once the funds are secured, the grant program will commence according to legal procedures. As required by law, MARAD must issue a notice of funding applications within 15 days of the bill’s enactment, with the announcement expected around February 18th; the application deadline is approximately 60 days later, around April 4th.
The Small Shipyard Grant Coalition, established in 2008 and managed by MARAD, primarily provides funding for project upgrades at small shipyards, while also offering skills training for workers in shipbuilding, ship repair, and related industries.
The program is applicable to shipyards with fewer than 1,200 employees, with grants covering up to 75% of the project’s estimated cost. Its aim is to enhance domestic shipbuilding capacity, improve shipyard competitiveness, and support maritime workforce development. Eligible projects typically cover capital equipment procurement, facility upgrades, and workforce development programs.
2026 will mark the 18th year of the program. The U.S. government had previously requested $105 million in funding, but only $35 million was ultimately allocated, still a significant increase from previous years. In 2024 and 2025, the funding plan will only amount to $8.57 million annually.