On June 20, 2023, NOAA opened applications for the first-ever Climate Resilience Regional Challenge, a competitive opportunity that will provide $575 million in funding appropriated by IRA section 40001 to help coastal and Great Lakes communities, including tribal communities in those regions, become more resilient to extreme weather and other impacts of the climate crisis. The Challenge is the first and largest funding opportunity under the $2.6 billion Inflation Reduction Act climate resilience framework.
The focus of the grant program is on collaborative approaches to achieving resilience in coastal regions. Proposed projects should address risk reduction, regional collaboration, equity, and build enduring capacity for adaptation. In particular, the Challenge aims to uplift and address the needs of tribal communities and those that are marginalized, underserved and underrepresented.
This competitive grant program has two distinct tracks for investing in holistic, collaborative approaches to coastal resilience at regional scales. Track One will support Regional Collaborative Building and Strategy Development ($25 million), with a focus on laying the groundwork for future resilience efforts. Track Two will support the Implementation of Resilience and Adaptation Actions ($550 million), with a focus on implementing transformational climate adaptation actions.