$2.6 billion allocated to protect coastal communities and restore marine resources

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its plans to invest $2.6 billion in coastal resilience funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). These funds will support communities on the frontlines of climate change, restore marine resources, improve weather and climate data and services, strengthen NOAA's research airplane and ship fleet, invest in critical infrastructure, and more. Of particular interest to Digest readers will be funding for ocean-based climate resilience accelerators and climate-ready workforce.

The $2.6 billion in climate investments will support coastal communities’ resilience to changing climate conditions through funding and technical assistance for capacity building, transformational projects that help protect communities from storms and flooding, the creation of quality climate-related jobs, and improved delivery of climate services to communities and businesses. These programs include:

• Climate Resilience Regional Challenge ($575 million
• Tribal Priorities ($390 million)
• Climate-Ready Fisheries ($349 million)
• Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerators ($100 million): These accelerators will support businesses with coastal and ocean-based resilience products and services related to NOAA’s mission as they navigate commercialization pathways. These businesses will help communities prepare for, adapt to, and build resilience to changing climate conditions. Details will be available in early summer.
• Climate-Ready Workforce ($60 million): Funding will aid training and support services to help workers advance their careers and implement climate resilience efforts within public and private sectors. Details of this new competition will be available in early summer. 

Nearly $400 million is designated specifically for Tribal priorities and benefiting coastal and Great Lakes communities nationwide emphasizing environmental justice.

The framework for the $2.6 billion also includes additional funding for high-quality project applications received through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) competitions, non-competitive funding for the Integrated Ocean Observing System, support for marine and Great Lakes sanctuary designations, Technical Assistance to states, localities, tribes, and other partners and funding for the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund. The second round of BIL Climate-Ready Coasts Notices of Funding Opportunities are expected this summer.