FY 24 congressional community project funding university of maine system

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) awarded a $2,000,000 Congressional Grants Program (CFDA 59.059) Project Grant to the University of Maine System (UMS) on October 1, 2024. The grant supports small business development and entrepreneurship initiatives, with a focus on underserved communities.

Under this award, UMS will partner with Vertical Bay, a Maine-based sea scallop aquaculture company, to develop novel production models and conduct life cycle assessments to analyze the long-term economic and climate sustainability of scallop farming. The project will leverage UMS's expertise in areas such as marine sciences, climate adaptation, and advanced material engineering to help Vertical Bay optimize its operations, increase throughput, and improve working conditions amid changing environmental conditions. The work will involve sourcing and monitoring the use of new equipment to enhance scallop production processes.