OIA Coral Reef Initiative and Natural Resources (CRNR) Program 2026
Grant Opportunity Analysis
The Department of the Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs is seeking grant proposals under its Coral Reef and Natural Resources Initiative to protect coral reefs and other natural resources in U.S. territories and the freely associated states. The program supports projects that improve food security, protect shorelines, strengthen local economies, restore native species, and prevent, respond to, or eradicate invasive species. Eligible applicants include non-federal government entities, hospitals, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations, and proposals are reviewed for narrative clarity, budget quality, reporting compliance, alignment with OIA priorities, audit timeliness, past performance, stakeholder support, and SAM.gov exclusion status. The program has $2.8 million available for an estimated 10 awards, applications are due May 18, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET, and submissions must be made through Grants.gov with SAM.gov registration completed beforehand.
Eligible Applicants
Authorized under 48 U.S. Code § 1469d for General technical assistance, Public Law 96-597, Section 601, and subsequent amendments, Office of Insular Affairs CRNR funds are available to benefit the U.S. territories of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) and the freely associated states which are the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau.Eligible applicants include non-federal, local government entities and component units, hospitals, health centers, institutions of higher education, and non-profit organizations in the United States and its territories, as well as international entities whose proposed projects will benefit these insular areas and comply with 2 CFR 200.Judicial and legislative branches of local governments are not eligible per 2 CFR 200.444.