Opportunity Information: Apply for SFOP0005002
The grant opportunity titled Supporting Sustainable Seafood Private Sector Businesses in the Pacific Islands (Funding Opportunity Number SFOP0005002) is a U.S. Department of State initiative run through the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP). It is designed to help Pacific Islands fisheries and seafood-sector businesses strengthen their operations in ways that are both environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive, while also driving real economic growth for Pacific communities. The core idea is to connect Pacific Island entrepreneurs and companies with practical tools, mentorship, and networks so they can modernize their business practices, grow responsibly, and compete more effectively in broader regional and global markets.
At the center of the program is participation in a global business plan competition. The competition is meant to serve as a structured pathway for businesses to refine their business models, clarify market opportunities, and present credible growth plans to potential partners and investors. The opportunity emphasizes using U.S. expertise in innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment to support this process. In practice, that generally points to activities like training and coaching on business planning, financial management, pitching and investor communications, and other forms of capacity building that make companies more "investment-ready" and able to attract capital or commercial partnerships.
The program is also explicitly focused on inclusion and positive social impact alongside profitability. Applicants are expected to design programming that helps seafood and fisheries businesses adopt practices that create benefits for communities, such as expanding employment opportunities for groups that are often left out of higher-quality jobs. The opportunity specifically mentions women and youth as examples of disadvantaged populations to be included. The broader intent is to ensure that growth in the seafood economy translates into jobs and income that stay in Pacific Island communities, rather than only benefiting outside actors.
Another major objective is supply chain integration and market connectivity. The grant envisions helping Pacific Islands businesses plug into regional and global seafood supply chains, which can involve improving product quality, meeting buyer requirements, strengthening traceability and sustainability practices, and building relationships with buyers, distributors, and industry partners. The opportunity also highlights networking as a key tool: creating chances for Pacific businesses to learn from peers, exchange best practices, and develop business and investment partnerships. Exposure to new technologies and innovation in the seafood sector is part of this, suggesting that competitive advantage may come from modern approaches to processing, quality control, logistics, sustainability assurance, and business operations.
From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant with a single anticipated award. The award ceiling is $197,500, and the program is categorized under Regional Development (CFDA number 19.124). Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education). The funding opportunity was created on May 2, 2018, with an original closing date of June 30, 2018. Overall, the opportunity is best understood as a targeted, entrepreneurship-and-growth program for Pacific seafood enterprises, pairing business acceleration support with sustainability and inclusion outcomes, and using a global business plan competition as the organizing vehicle to drive readiness, visibility, and partnerships.Apply for SFOP0005002
- The Department of State, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs in the regional development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Supporting Sustainable Seafood Private Sector Businesses in the Pacific Islands" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 19.124.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 02, 2018.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 30, 2018. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $197,500.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the name of this grant opportunity?
The opportunity is titled Supporting Sustainable Seafood Private Sector Businesses in the Pacific Islands.
What is the Funding Opportunity Number (FON)?
The Funding Opportunity Number is SFOP0005002.
Which U.S. government agency is offering this grant?
This is a U.S. Department of State grant initiative administered through the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (EAP).
What is the main goal of the program?
The program is designed to help Pacific Islands fisheries and seafood-sector businesses strengthen their operations in ways that are environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive, while also driving real economic growth for Pacific communities.
Who is the program intended to benefit?
The ultimate beneficiaries are Pacific Islands fisheries and seafood private sector businesses and the communities connected to them, with an emphasis on ensuring economic gains translate into local jobs and income in Pacific Island communities.
What kind of approach does the opportunity emphasize?
The opportunity emphasizes connecting Pacific Island entrepreneurs and companies with practical tools, mentorship, and networks so they can modernize business practices, grow responsibly, and compete more effectively in regional and global markets.
How does the global business plan competition fit into the program?
Participation in a global business plan competition is central to the program. The competition is intended to provide a structured pathway for businesses to refine their business models, clarify market opportunities, and present credible growth plans to potential partners and investors.
What does "investment-ready" mean in the context of this grant?
In this opportunity, "investment-ready" generally refers to businesses improving their ability to attract capital or commercial partnerships by strengthening areas like business planning, financial management, and pitching and investor communications.
What types of activities are suggested by the grant description?
Based on the description, activities generally point to training and coaching on business planning and operations, mentorship, support for developing growth strategies, and helping businesses communicate with investors and partners through better pitches and business plans.
Does the program focus only on profitability?
No. The program explicitly emphasizes inclusion and positive social impact alongside profitability, meaning applicants are expected to incorporate community benefits as part of business growth.
Which groups are specifically mentioned for inclusion efforts?
The opportunity specifically mentions women and youth as examples of disadvantaged populations that should be included in programming and economic opportunities.
What does the grant say about ensuring benefits stay in Pacific Island communities?
The intent is to ensure that growth in the seafood economy translates into jobs and income that stay in Pacific Island communities, rather than mainly benefiting outside actors.
What is meant by supply chain integration and market connectivity?
The grant envisions helping Pacific Islands businesses plug into regional and global seafood supply chains. This can involve improving product quality, meeting buyer requirements, strengthening traceability and sustainability practices, and building relationships with buyers, distributors, and industry partners.
Is networking an expected component of the program?
Yes. Networking is highlighted as a key tool, including creating opportunities for Pacific businesses to learn from peers, exchange best practices, and develop business and investment partnerships.
Does the opportunity mention technology and innovation?
Yes. The description highlights exposure to new technologies and innovation in the seafood sector, suggesting advantages may come from modern approaches to processing, quality control, logistics, sustainability assurance, and business operations.
What type of grant is this?
This is described as a discretionary grant.
How many awards does the program anticipate making?
The opportunity lists a single anticipated award.
What is the maximum funding amount (award ceiling)?
The award ceiling is $197,500.
What program category is associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is categorized under Regional Development.
What is the CFDA number listed for this opportunity?
The CFDA number provided is 19.124.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education.
Are universities eligible to apply?
No. The eligibility description explicitly excludes institutions of higher education.
When was this funding opportunity created?
The funding opportunity was created on May 2, 2018.
What was the original closing date?
The original closing date listed is June 30, 2018.
What role does U.S. expertise play in this program?
The opportunity emphasizes using U.S. expertise in innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment to support Pacific Island seafood businesses through capacity building, business modernization, and improved access to partners and investors.
How should this opportunity be understood at a high level?
Overall, it is a targeted entrepreneurship-and-growth program for Pacific seafood enterprises that pairs business acceleration support with sustainability and inclusion outcomes, using a global business plan competition as the organizing vehicle to build readiness, visibility, and partnerships.
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