Guide to Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) Grants

What are PIDP grants?

PIDP grants help port authorities and industry stakeholders improve port infrastructure to meet the needs of modern freight transportation and expected future growth.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act released $2.25 billion in funding for the PIDP grant program over five years from 2022 to 2026. $450 million in funding, plus an additional $50 million made available through the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, is available to eligible parties in Fiscal Year (FY) 25 to be issued as discretionary grants.

What types of projects do PIDP grants fund?

PIDP grants can be used to fund a variety of projects provided applicants can demonstrate how their proposed plans will improve the safety, efficiency or reliability of critical port operations.

Eligible project types for port infrastructure grants include:

• Security infrastructure upgrades: Enhancements to existing video security, access control and alarm systems intended to improve the safety and physical security of port infrastructure.
• Transport management improvements: Upgrades to key assets and management systems to improve the efficiency and reliability of loading and unloading operations.
• Environmental mitigation measures: Investments for environmental observation technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to measure emissions and limit environmental impacts. 

Who can apply for a PIDP grant?

While port development grants can be used to improve and upgrade infrastructure across a wide range of port and freight facilities, applications must be submitted by approved entities.

The following entities are considered eligible applicants for PIDP grants:

• A state
• A political subdivision of a state, or a local government.
• A publicly chartered authority or public agency
• A special-purpose district with a transportation function
• An individual or consortium of recognized Indian Tribes
• A multijurisdictional group of the entities mentioned above

Port Infrastructure Development Program grants can also be applied for jointly by a lead entity as described above and by a private entity or a group of private entities, including owners/​operators of facilities at active U.S. ports.

Applications for PIDP grants must be submitted through the Grants​.gov website. Before submitting, applicants must complete the Grants​.gov registration process, which can take up to 4 weeks.

5 ways to find port infrastructure grant opportunities

Owners and operators of facilities at active U.S. ports can identify port development grant opportunities in several ways. Alongside PIDP grants, state and privately funded grants for the expansion of port infrastructure can be awarded to eligible entities with certain needs.

1. Grants​.gov

Grants​.gov is a regularly updated online database that lists information about all current and upcoming federal grant opportunities across the U.S. Grantseekers can use the site’s search grants tool to find relevant programs using keywords like ​‘port maritime development grants’.

2. SAM​.gov

SAM​.gov is a government website designed to manage professional relationships between private entities and federal bodies. Many federal grants require SAM registration to manage post-award processes; members can search the SAM database for upcoming grants. 

3. State and local government agencies

State and local governments announce new funding opportunities to improve infrastructure and services in their communities. Grant seekers can contact these agencies via official channels to identify existing or upcoming port and freight infrastructure programs.

4. Community and non-profit foundations

Independent community-led organizations, charities and non-profit foundations often provide financial support to private entities looking to improve local infrastructure. The Council on Foundations hosts a locator tool that grantseekers can use to find port development grants.

5. Corporate giving programs

Local private companies may provide grants for developments to improve local infrastructure through internal corporate giving initiatives. Facility owners may contact companies directly to inquire about such programs and demonstrate why funding will benefit local communities.

How are PIDP grant applications assessed?

PIDP grants are highly competitive, with a limited amount of funding available to applicants across the entirety of the U.S. PIDP grants are awarded by order of priority, with successful grant applications required to meet strict administrative, practical and financial requirements.

Initial application screening

All Port Infrastructure Development Program applications submitted by the deadline date undergo an initial screening process to ensure all basic requirements have been met. When received by the awarding body, each application will be screened to review the following details:

• Eligibility:Officials will check that the PIDP grant application has been submitted by an eligible party and is intended to fund projects that meet the predescribed funding criteria.
• Formatting:The application will be reviewed to ensure the requested information meets narrative requirements and has been presented in the correct typographical format.
• Objectives:The PIDP grant application will undergo a cursory review to confirm that all objectives are clearly presented, meet selection criteria and have projected timelines.
• Budget:The awarding body will ensure that a budget for the project has been provided and confirm that financial details have been submitted in line with program guidelines.

Technical and financial evaluation

All PIDP grant applications that pass the initial screening will be reviewed in greater detail by a review committee. During this process, independent experts will assess the overall quality and practical viability of each PIDP grant proposal based on the following evaluation criteria:

• Goals and scope:Have feasible methods to achieve the proposed goals been outlined?
• Impact and benefits:Will the project have a measurable, positive impact on the community?
• Cost and execution:Can the grantee manage and finish the project within budget?

Community and strategic alignment

At this stage in the PIDP grant review process, all remaining applicants will meet predefined award criteria. If the amount of funding available doesn’t cover what’s needed for all remaining projects, a final round of analyses will be conducted to determine which best meet program objectives.

The review committee will consider several factors, including strategic alignment with internal goals and expected impacts on local communities, to separate close contenders. A final awarding decision will be made based on the cost, viability and potential impact.

How to create a successful PIDP grant application

Writing and submitting a successful PIDP grant proposal can be difficult. Eligible parties must meet strict criteria to be considered for funding, with even well-presented grants often falling short in favor of plans that better meet the awarding body’s predefined program goals.

To help grantees meet funders’ needs, below are some tips for writing a successful proposal.

1. Review the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

Federal grants are accompanied by a document called a Request for Funding Proposal (RFP) or Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). This outlines the application details and requirements.

RFPs and NOFOs provide a framework that applicants can use to build a successful PIDP grant proposal. Before engaging in any other task, review the NOFO to locate the following details:

• Deadline dates
• Registration details
• Submission requirements
• Formatting rules
• Requested evidence and signatures

2. Organize supporting data and evidence

The Port Infrastructure Development Program NOFO provides information that can be used to structure a successful grant application. Among these details, applicants will find key requirements for supporting information, like benefit-cost analyses and impact assessments.

Before writing a PIDP grant application, collect and organize this information to help ensure insights are readily available to grant writers. To further legitimize their plan, applicants may also consider collecting signed letters of support from local businesses and community leaders.

3. Apply a narrative structure to your proposal

A successful PIDP grant proposal will have a narrative structure that clearly outlines the project’s goal, how it will be achieved, the cost and the core benefits it will bring.

The PIDP Grant NOFO provides a basic narrative framework that applicants can build their proposal around. Successful proposals will form a skeleton around the headers in section D3 ​‘Project Narrative’, then add relevant evidence and actionable goals to the appropriate sections.

Start by adding details in bullet points under each header, then build the narrative outward. Great proposals tell the story of a project, the problem it solves and why it deserves funding.

4. State clear objectives, budgets and timelines

While grant writers are building the narrative structure of the proposal, leaders should check in to ensure all content points towards defined goals and measurable outcomes. Successful port infrastructure grant proposals will state clear objectives beneath each narrative heading.

Further into the proposal, realistic budgets and timelines should be assigned to key tasks to help demonstrate responsible post-award management capabilities to the funder. The more quality, concise, contextual details grantees can provide, the higher their chance of approval.

5. Submit your proposal with time to spare

The final step to a successful port infrastructure grant application is to make sure the proposal is submitted on time. PIDP grant proposals must be submitted via Grants​.gov by the deadline date from a registered account.

Submitting with time to spare gives applicants room to manoeuvre any technical difficulties and unforeseen issues, as well as seek outside opinions on content to confirm that proposals are clearly structured, easily readable, grammatically correct and factually sound.

Tips to overcome PIDP grant funding challenges

While following the steps outlined above will help prospective grantees write successful PIDP grant applications, wider funding challenges can complicate matters if not addressed.

Below are some further tips to help applicants overcome common grant funding challenges.

• Plan: Like most federal grants, PIDP grants run on a funding cycle with awards issued yearly. Aligning internal organizational timelines and grant cycles can be difficult, so it’s wise to plan and set up alerts via sites like Grants​.gov.
• Garner support: As port infrastructure grants are awarded on a priority basis, plans deemed to have the greatest potential impact on local communities are more likely to be accepted; try to secure letters of support from community and business leaders.
• Build a grant team: Gathering required information, structuring proposals, creating budgets and plotting timelines can be time-consuming and labor-intensive work. Build a grant team to streamline operations and work on multiple aspects simultaneously.
• Pre-collect evidence: Successful PIDP grant proposals leverage high-quality data to demonstrate the need for and potential impact of funding; set up systems to collect quality data before exploring grants to improve the efficiency of the writing process.
• Define SMART goals: Grant reviewers prioritize proposals that clearly articulate why funds are needed, how much projects will cost and when they’ll be completed; set out specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound SMART goals in your proposal.

Best practices for using port infrastructure grants

Port Infrastructure Development Program grant awards can be used to fund various unique and impactful projects across active U.S. ports. Below are a few examples of projects PIDP grants can help support to improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of port operations.

Invest in scalable video security systems

Smart, scalable port and maritime surveillance systems that leverage AI video analytics help to identify and address security and safety threats autonomously. Additionally, the presence of cameras and signage that indicate video security in operation helps deter criminal activity.

The real-time coverage provided by a reliable IP security camera system enables teams to view port activity, manage tasks remotely and investigate incidents using detailed footage. Using PIDP grants to fund video security systems enhances site-wide safety and supports the efficient movement of goods.

Develop digital visitor management systems 

Digital visitor management systems tailored to meet industry-specific needs enable workers to screen guests, streamline appointments and control entry to sensitive areas. Using PIDP grants to fund such technologies can help to improve the safety and efficiency of operations.

Strengthen site-wide access control systems

Advanced access control systems that combine LPR cameras, multi-credential readers and cloud-based management portals can support safer and more efficient port operations. Security teams can manage permissions and access events remotely to help ensure 24/7 coverage.

Fund port improvements with PIDP grants

The Port Infrastructure Development Program is a federally funded grant available to owners and operators of U.S. ports. Grantees may use PIDP grants to finance the development of systems and security technologies that improve the safety, efficiency and reliability of port operations.

Port infrastructure grants are highly competitive. Successful applicants will ensure they’re eligible, follow submission guidelines to the letter and write compelling proposals that demonstrate how their plans will have a lasting positive impact on the wider local community.

To raise the likelihood of funding success, grantees should focus on practical improvements made to critical infrastructure, including security and facility management system upgrades.