North Carolina Sea Grant and the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership (APNEP) aim to support research and initiatives that improve the understanding, management, and conservation of the North Carolina portion of the APNEP management area. They focus on funding projects that advance knowledge in critical areas such as estuary spatial planning, submerged aquatic vegetation, coastal water quality, ecological flows, and wetlands. These organizations are particularly interested in supporting research by graduate students from historically underrepresented groups and institutions.
The Community Collaborative Research Grant Program (CCRG), backed by North Carolina Sea Grant and the William R. Kenan Jr. Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science, emphasizes a collaborative research methodology that integrates community stakeholder insights with academic expertise to tackle vital coastal issues in alignment with Sea Grant's objectives and directives. This grant champions projects aimed at fostering healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, resilient communities and economies, and environmental literacy and workforce development. Additionally, it highlights focus areas relevant to WRRI, such as stormwater management, water infrastructure, and watershed management. CCRG prioritizes research that offers tangible benefits to rural and historically underserved regions and supports diversity by encouraging participation from minority groups and institutions. Proposals must outline a comprehensive approach that fuses scientific investigation with local knowledge and demonstrate plans for disseminating findings within both academic and community spheres. Funding, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000 per award, is available for one-year projects starting May 1, 2020, and proposals involving collaborative partnerships are especially encouraged.