On April 22, 2023, NOAA announced that it is recommending $562 million in investments to boost climate resilience in coastal states and communities. The funding will be released through NOAA’s Climate-Ready Coasts Initiative, which draws funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and is further supported by funding from section 40001 of the IRA.
The funding announcement will provide investments in nearly 150 projects across 30 coastal and Great Lakes states and territories. The funding is intended to make communities and economies more resilient to climate change. The $562 million investment supports the following:
1. $477 million for high-impact projects aimed at creating climate solutions and strengthening coastal communities’ ability to respond to extreme weather events, pollution, and marine debris. This investment also supports projects for storing carbon and building capacity in underserved communities, among others.
2. $46 million will be provided to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation National Coastal Resilience Fund, for projects aimed at helping communities with increased flooding preparedness, sea-level rise, and more intense storms.
3. $34 million for non-competitive funding opportunities, targeting 34 state and territorial coastal management programs and 30 national estuarine research reserves working in partnership with NOAA under the Coastal Zone Management Act.