Announcement underscores Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to climate resiliency

From sea level rise and storm surges to eroding infrastructure, coastal communities are on the frontlines of dealing with the worsening impacts of climate change. As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to combatting the climate crisis, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo recently announced that the Commerce Department is recommending $575 million in funding across 19 projects to boost climate resilience in the nation’s coastal and Great Lakes states and territories. Funding is provided through Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC) – a competitive grant program funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the most significant climate investment in history. 

To echo this announcement, Deputy Commerce Secretary Don Graves and NOAA Deputy Administrator Jainey Bavishi traveled to Perth Amboy, New Jersey where they announced $72.5 million encompassing 16 coastal New Jersey counties for a project to make the state’s coast more resilient to climate change and other coastal hazards.

“This investment, funded by the President’s Inflation Reduction Act, is about keeping coastal communities safe,” Graves said. “It’s about being stewards of the environment we all live in. It’s about ensuring that the next generation of Americans can lead lives of dignity."

In addition to New Jersey, NOAA Administrator Dr. Richard Spinrad and White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi traveled to Portland, Maine where they announced $69 million to strengthen the state’s resilience of working waterfronts and building enduring capacity to prepare for, and respond to, climate change impacts. Other states and regions recommended for funding include Alaska, California, the Federated State of Micronesia, Hawai’i, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, the US Virgin Islands, Washington, and Wisconsin.

“Coming from a coastal state, I know how many people rely upon coastal resiliency for their livelihood,” said Secretary Raimondo. “This announcement underscores the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to climate resiliency and safeguarding the lives and livelihoods of communities across America.”

Announced in 2023, the CRRC is a one-time funding opportunity designed to support efforts to enhance resilience to impacts from extreme weather and climate change, enhance regional collaboration and equity, and build enduring capacity in communities. NOAA saw an unprecedented level of demand for funding through this announcement and received nearly 870 eligible Letters of Intent requesting more than $16 billion in funding. Of these, 120 applicants were selected to submit full proposals, which totaled more than $3 billion in combined requests.

NOAA’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge competitive grant program is focused on collaborative projects that increase the resilience of coastal communities to extreme weather and other climate change impacts, including sea level rise and drought and contributes to the vision laid out in the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Climate Resilience Framework. Additional information is available on the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge website.