The Commerce Department has announced a significant investment aimed at enhancing climate resilience in America's coastal communities. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo revealed that the department is recommending $575 million in funding for 19 projects across coastal and Great Lakes states and territories. This funding, provided through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC), is part of the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to combat the climate crisis.
Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves and NOAA Deputy Administrator Jainey Bavishi traveled to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to announce $72.5 million for a project covering 16 coastal counties in New Jersey. "This investment, funded by the President’s Inflation Reduction Act, is about keeping coastal communities safe," Graves stated. "It’s about being stewards of the environment we all live in."
In Portland, Maine, NOAA Administrator Dr. Richard Spinrad and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi announced $69 million to strengthen the state's working waterfronts' resilience. Other regions recommended for funding include Alaska, California, Micronesia, Hawai’i, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, the US Virgin Islands, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The CRRC was introduced in 2023 as a one-time funding opportunity designed to enhance resilience against extreme weather and climate change impacts while promoting regional collaboration and equity. NOAA received nearly 870 eligible Letters of Intent requesting more than $16 billion in funding; 120 applicants were selected to submit full proposals totaling over $3 billion.
The grant program focuses on collaborative projects aimed at increasing coastal communities' resilience to extreme weather events such as sea level rise and drought. More information can be found on the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge website.
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