Development Project and Conference Support Grant Program

Development Project and Conference Support Grant Program

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Connecticut Sea Grant
Amount: Up to US $5,000
Last Updated: February 01, 2026

Summary

The Development Project and Conference Support Grant Program, offered by Connecticut Sea Grant, aims to enhance coastal and marine ecosystems through targeted funding for pilot research, education, and conferences. Grants up to $1,000 are available for conference support, with most projects funded between $250 and $3,000. Preference is given to innovative projects that leverage additional funding and demonstrate substantial outcomes. Eligibility extends to Connecticut-based academic and research institutions, while strict scrutiny applies to travel funding requests.

Overview

Sea Grant works to build bridges between academia, government and the private sector. Sea Grant focuses on environmental, economic, social and education improvements. Sea Grant is committed to solving coastal problems and developing new marine resources. Our Mission: Connecticut Sea Grant will work towards achieving healthy coastal and marine ecosystems and consequent public benefits by supporting integrated locally and nationally relevant research, outreach and education programs in partnership with stakeholders. Development Project and Conference Support Development project funding is primarily designed for one-time support of pilot research, extension or education projects, publications, conferences or similar initiatives. CTSG may provide up to a maximum of $1,000 for conference support. Exceptions to this policy may occur if CTSG plays a substantive role in the planning and/or implementation of the conference. As with other development proposals, requests for conference support must show a clear linkage to CTSG’s areas of strategic focus. All projects are subject both to review, and to the availability of funds. Only in rare circumstances will CTSG support development projects in excess of $5,000, and most funded projects are in the range of $250-$3,000. Requests for development funds can be made at any time. Other limitations on development projects and budgets include: Requests for travel funds are also scrutinized very closely. Support for faculty (and other full-time employee) conference travel is rarely provided, and must be justified strongly in terms of CTSG’s areas of strategic focus. Limitations to the use of development funds for travel include:Travel for untenured assistant professors and non-tenure track staff may be supported in rare circumstances, and then only if clear linkages to CTSG strategic focus areas are demonstrated, and if no other sources of travel funds are available.Student travel may be supported if funds are justified in terms of active participation with clear benefits (e.g., presentation of research results that are clearly linked to CTSG’s focus areas, and for which travel funds are otherwise unavailable).Similar limitations apply to non-university employees.Travel for senior-level, permanent employees will not be supported using development funds. Travel for junior-level employees may be available under the same limitations that apply to non-tenure track university staff.Requests for reasonable and justified amounts of travel funds for field sampling will be considered.Development funds may be used to partially support stipends, salary, or hourly labor for students, post docs, technicians or research assistants, contractors/consultants, and others whose salaries are derived primarily from external grants.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Requests may be submitted by individuals affiliated with any Connecticut-based formal or informal academic or educational institutions, research laboratories, extension/outreach facilities, state or local agencies, or for-profit institutions or companies

Ineligibility

Requests for travel funds are scrutinized very closely: Travel by tenured university faculty members (or untenured associate or full professors) is not eligible for support.Travel for senior-level, permanent employees will not be supported using development funds.Requests for funding of page charges associated with publications are not accepted under this funding program.Development funds may NOT be used to support salary for principal investigators or full-time employees who do not fall into one of the above categories (this includes summer salary for college or university faculty). You will need to complete a final report upon completion of the project (within 30 days of the end date), to include the outcomes and impacts of the project.