President signs $35m for Small Shipyard Grants in 2026

This quadruples the 2025 funding level.

Yesterday, the President signed the FY26 federal funding package, fully funding the government. This includes $35 million for the US Maritime Administration’s Small Shipyard Grant Program (SSGP).

The clock has officially started, with 60 days until applications are due, around April 4. MARAD by law is required to publish its grant notice within 15 days, around February 18.

How this happened —

This funding increase for small shipyards wouldn’t be possible without the strong Administration budget proposal of $105 million, and the continuing bipartisan leadership on the Hill; including Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and in the Senate, and Congressmen Mike Ezell (R-MS-04) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) (Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee). Your own Members of Congress and Senators also may have played a key role in supporting this funding and you should not hesitate to thank them when you have the opportunity.

What this means —

Eligible shipyards: hopefully you have already been thinking about your potential capital and workforce training projects. We expect no changes to the eligibility criteria for applicants and projects, so obtaining relevant vendor quotes is paramount to developing your application. 60 days goes by fast. The 2025 SSGP grant notice is helpful guidance that will likely provide 90% of what you need, subject to changes in 2026.

Vendors of U.S.-made shipyard equipment: Small Shipyard Grants are a way to help fund customer projects that are ready, but lack funding. Grants can help push projects forward that would otherwise be years away. Make sure your customers know these opportunities exist!

Shipyard worker training partners: you also have opportunities to shape potential training programs for eligible shipyard applicants. Think of the items — particularly capital costs — that can help funded needed training-related costs.