The Healey-Driscoll Administration is pleased to announce the 2026 Seaport Economic Council Grant Program.
Donor Name: Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED)
State: Massachusetts
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 09/10/2025
Size of the Grant: Not Available
Grant Duration: 3 Years
Details:
As outlined in the state capital budget, the Seaport Economic Council Grant Program is established to provide capital funding to coastal communities for community planning and investment activities that will stimulate economic development in all sectors of the blue economy , advance the development of maritime technologies and innovation, and to construct, make improvements, repair, maintain, and protect coastal assets that are vital to achieving these goals. It also provides for the planning, prioritization, selection, and implementation of projects that consider climate change impacts in furtherance of the goals outlined in the state’s integrated hazard mitigation and climate adaptation plan.
Categories
In FY2026, the Seaport Economic Council grant program will consider applications that are proposing a project in one of the following categories:
- Local Maritime Economic Development Planning Grants: Coastal communities vary in size and scope from deep-water port cities to small fishing villages. These grants provide capacity for coastal communities to explore their unique advantages and generate economic development plans which help them realize their full potential, increase job growth, and maximize the maritime economic sector for their community. Proposals that develop or leverage research and/or technology development assets will be viewed favorably.
- Port and Terminal Infrastructure Grants: Port Infrastructure Development Grants assists in funding eligible projects for the purpose of improving the safety, efficiency, or reliability of the movement of goods through ports and intermodal connections to ports. Proposals that include the development of research infrastructure and/or testbed facilities (digital or physical) will be reviewed favorably.
- Recreational Boating and Coastal Tourism Assets Grants: The grants are intended to support coastal communities with implementing recreational boating and coastal tourism projects and approaches as part of their broader efforts to build climate resilience and advance their sustainable development goals. Proposals that will result in the development of marine and coastal research infrastructure and/or learning and engagement environments will be favorably reviewed.
- Dredging Design & Permitting Grants: This program provides pre- construction-phase funding, on a competitive basis, for saltwater dredging projects that contribute to the economic significance, recreational value, public safety, and/or coastal resilience of Massachusetts’ coastal harbors. Proposals that incorporate the development or implementation of advanced technologies, such as AI, Autonomous Systems, IoT, GPS mapping or Digital Twin modeling, will be favorably reviewed.
Project Period
Three years. SEC grants will run for a maximum of 3 full fiscal years following the successful execution of a contract.
Eligibility Criteria
- The program is open to all 78 coastal communities of the Commonwealth and other qualified public entities. Specifically, any Massachusetts city or town, acting by and through its municipal officers or by and through an agency designated by such municipal officers to act on their behalf, or any local public entity, may apply to the program for a grant in a specified amount to fund a public infrastructure project. Two or more municipalities may apply jointly, with one municipality or public entity acting as a fiscal agent. In instances where the municipality is not the lead on a particular application, it is strongly suggested and sometimes required that the municipality serve as co-applicant.
- Preference will be given to those applications that demonstrate collaboration and/or include an advanced maritime technology component, and joint applications are encouraged by entities with a proven track record in maritime sector strategy, maritime economic development (including research and technology development), and the sustainable development of economically supportive and resilient coastal assets.
For more information, visit EOED.
