Approximately $575 million is available for projects that build the resilience of coastal communities to extreme weather (e.g., hurricanes and storm surge) and other impacts of climate change, including sea level rise and drought.

Funding was made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, a historic, federal government-wide investment that is advancing NOAA’s efforts to build Climate-Ready Coasts. 

There are two parallel but separate funding tracks.

Track One: Regional Collaborative Building and Strategy Development

Track One funding can be used to initiate new, regional-scale collaborations or to advance existing partnerships focused on climate resilience. The goal of Track One is to collectively move more coastal communities closer to taking action, especially those that are marginalized, underserved, or underrepresented.

• Funding Availability: NOAA will select 20 to 25 applicants, to receive $500,000 to $2 million each, which will be spent over three to five years. Typical Track One awards are anticipated to be $1 million. Total funding for all Track One awards may be up to $25 million.

• Eligible Activities: NOAA will fund activities to 1) build and expand regional collaboratives; 2) engage and partner with marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented communities; 3) assess risk and vulnerability; 4) plan resilience strategies and adaptation actions; and 5) build community and workforce capacity for climate adaptation efforts. The Notice of Funding Opportunity provides additional examples.

Track Two: Implementation of Resilience and Adaptation Actions

Reducing risk and vulnerability requires action. This track provides funding for applicants to implement coordinated adaptation efforts that support a holistic vision for resilience and build the capacity of the communities in a region to sustain efforts into the future, especially those communities that are marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented.

• Funding Availability: NOAA will select approximately 15 applicants to receive $15 to $75 million each, to be spent over five years. Typical Track Two awards are anticipated to be between $25 and $50 million. Total funding available for all Track Two awards is up to $550 million.

• Eligible Activities: Track Two funding can be used to support activities such as 1) acquiring vulnerable land; 2) building natural infrastructure; 3) hybrid green (natural) and gray (structural) construction activities; 4) strengthening or protecting public access to coastal natural resources; 5) building the region’s capacity for ongoing actions that increase resilience; 6) planning and preparing for community-led relocation; and 7) updating state and local codes and policies. The Notice of Funding Opportunity provides additional examples.

Application Deadline: Letter of intent due Monday, August 28, 2023 (extended deadline); Full applications due Tuesday, February 13, 2024.

Announcement: https://coast.noaa.gov/funding/ira/resilience-challenge/