Maine PFAS Research Grants (PFAS Research Grants)

Through the Fund to Address PFAS Contamination (PFAS Fund), Maine DACF operates a competitive research grant program to fund research that helps farmers determine their best options for maintaining and enhancing viability despite the presence of PFAS on their property. The program supports scientific research, explores establishing a research station on PFAS Fund-purchased property, and compiles and shares resulting scientific information.

There are two grant categories:

• Major Grants between $100,000 and $500,000 to support multi-year research projects.

• Targeted Grants of less than $100,000 for projects smaller in scope and duration (up to 18 months).

Research priorities and targeted questions include the movement, remediation, and disposal of PFAS in agricultural materials; markets for contaminated hay; PFAS accumulation in horses/pigs/pollinators and Christmas trees; livestock correlation studies; and communication strategies for impacted producers.

Open to researchers proposing projects that help commercial farmers make informed decisions about utilizing agricultural property impacted by PFAS. Proposals should address a targeted research question or PFAS Fund research priority, benefit Maine farm viability, and fill a gap in the literature. (This program is distinct from the farmer financial assistance suite - applicants are researchers, not impacted farmers directly.)

Major Grants: minimum $100,000, maximum $500,000 each, multi-year period of performance. Targeted Grants: less than $100,000 each, period of performance 12 to 18 months. The most recent cycle allocated approximately $3 million for Major Grants and $500,000 for Targeted Grants. Period of performance begins upon signed contract.

Applications are submitted in competitive rounds. For the current cycle (RFA #PFNDT2025001 Targeted Grants Round 1 and RFA #PFNDM2025002 Major Grants Round 2): call for pre-proposals opened October 1, 2025 via online form; pre-proposals closed November 10, 2025; complete applications were due February 13, 2026 by 11:59 PM EST; anticipated award notification May 8, 2026. RFAs and materials are posted on the program webpage; questions to the RFA Coordinator via PFASFund.DACF@maine.gov.