Virgin Islands Eco-Tourism Grants for Disability Entrepreneurs
GrantID: 73842
Grant Funding Amount Low: $50,000
Deadline: Ongoing
Grant Amount High: $100,000
Summary
Explore related grant categories to find additional funding opportunities aligned with this program:
Arts, Culture, History, Music & Humanities grants, Black, Indigenous, People of Color grants, Business & Commerce grants, Community Development & Services grants, Disabilities grants, Small Business grants.
Grant Overview
The U.S. Virgin Islands face a documented shortage of workers trained in both disability accommodation and eco-tourism operations. The territory's three main islands employ roughly 4,800 people in tourism, yet only 12 certified accessibility auditors reside locally, and none hold current credentials for trail or vessel adaptation. Tourism contributes 43 percent of gross domestic product, yet 78 percent of small operators report they have never received training on ADA-compliant boat boarding or accessible snorkel equipment.
Workforce constraints appear most acute on St. John, where the national park constitutes two-thirds of the land area and seasonal staffing relies on 300–400 temporary workers each winter. St. Croix reports 2.1 rehabilitation counselors per 10,000 residents, compared with the national average of 4.8. St. Thomas experiences chronic turnover among dive-shop staff, with 34 percent of positions unfilled for more than 90 days. These gaps limit the ability of entrepreneurs with disabilities to obtain certifications required for operating adaptive kayak tours or accessible charter vessels.
Hurricane damage to training facilities in 2017 reduced classroom capacity at the University of the Virgin Islands by 40 percent; the sole occupational therapy program remains closed. Broadband speeds averaging 12 Mbps on St. Croix restrict participation in online certification modules offered by mainland providers. Transportation between islands depends on ferries that lack roll-on accessible boarding, adding scheduling barriers for trainees who use mobility devices.
Grants may support paid apprenticeships that pair entrepreneurs with disabilities with certified captains or naturalists, covering wages at $18 per hour for 480 hours of supervised instruction. Funds can also purchase portable boarding ramps certified for 300-pound capacity and adaptive snorkel mouthpieces at $240 per unit. Budgets must itemize how each purchase addresses the specific shortage of credentialed personnel rather than general tourism promotion.
Applicants must maintain a physical mailing address on one of the three islands and provide letters of commitment from at least two licensed tourism operators willing to host on-site training. Proposals are evaluated on the number of new certifications projected to be completed within 18 months and the retention plan for those workers.
Unlike Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands' smaller scale and hurricane vulnerability demand workforce development tailored to island-specific tourism constraints, requiring applicants to tie every budget line to measurable increases in locally credentialed staff.
Eligible Regions
Interests
Eligible Requirements
Related Grants
Grant for Community-Centered Education for Literacy Initiatives
Offers grants to nonprofit groups that help train, support, and keep direct support professionals in...
TGP Grant ID:
73890
Grants Supporting Youth Leadership in Gender Equity
Provides grants to nonprofit organizations serving children, with a focus on supporting at-risk and...
TGP Grant ID:
73900
Grant to Support Turtle Conservation and Research Initiatives
Offers a grant program dedicated to supporting conservation and research initiatives focused on high...
TGP Grant ID:
73949
Grant for Community-Centered Education for Literacy Initiatives
Deadline :
Ongoing
Funding Amount:
$0
Offers grants to nonprofit groups that help train, support, and keep direct support professionals in their jobs. The foundation will prioritize initia...
TGP Grant ID:
73890
Grants Supporting Youth Leadership in Gender Equity
Deadline :
Ongoing
Funding Amount:
$0
Provides grants to nonprofit organizations serving children, with a focus on supporting at-risk and special needs youth. Funding is directed toward ta...
TGP Grant ID:
73900
Grant to Support Turtle Conservation and Research Initiatives
Deadline :
Ongoing
Funding Amount:
$0
Offers a grant program dedicated to supporting conservation and research initiatives focused on highly endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles. Th...
TGP Grant ID:
73949