NOAA Opens Applications for $575M Climate Resilience Regional Challenge
Letters of intent are due Aug. 21, 2023
Approximately $575 million in funding is available through a new program being administered by NOAA’s Office of Coastal Management. The Climate Resilience Regional Challenge will 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.
There are two separate but simultaneous funding tracks. Funding for both tracks will be spent over the next five years. There is no matching requirement.
Track One: Regional Collaborative Building and Strategy Development – For efforts funded through this program, a partnership-focused, regional approach to building climate resilience is desired. Track One funding can be used to initiate new, regional-scale collaborative efforts or to advance existing partnerships. The goal is to collectively move more coastal communities closer to taking action, especially those that have been marginalized, underserved, or underrepresented.
Funding levels: NOAA anticipates selecting 20 to 25 proposals ranging from $500,000 to $2 million each. Total funding for all Track One awards may be up to $25 million.
Activities supported: The Regional Collaborative Building and Strategy Development fund is designed to support the following activities, including help with:
- Building and expanding regional partnerships.
- Engaging and partnering with tribes and marginalized, underserved, underrepresented communities.
- Assessing risk and vulnerability.
- Planning resilience strategies and adaptation actions.
- Building community and workforce capacity for climate adaptation efforts.
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 have been marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented.
Funding levels: NOAA anticipates awarding up to 15 proposals ranging from $15 million to $75 million each. Total funding available for all Track Two awards is up to $550 million.
Activities supported: The Implementation of Resilience and Adaptation Actions fund is designed to support regionally significant actions such as:
- Acquiring vulnerable land.
- Building natural infrastructure.
- Improving public infrastructure’s resilience.
- Strengthening or protecting public access to coastal natural resources.
- Building regional capacity for ongoing actions that increase resilience.
- Planning and preparing for community-led relocation.
- Updating state and local codes and policies.
“The Challenge provides an unprecedented opportunity to work hand-in-hand with communities to develop tailored solutions that reduce risk and address coastal climate-related hazards,” said Nicole LeBoeuf, director of NOAA’s National Ocean Service. “This investment will help align resources at the federal, state, tribal and regional levels, while emphasizing access for underserved communities — ensuring that all Americans benefit from this transformative approach to building resilience.”
State and local governments; tribes and tribal organizations; nonprofit organizations; and institutions of higher education are eligible to apply. Learn more about the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge funding opportunity and how to apply.
The first step is to submit a letter of intent by August 21, 2023. Get the details here.
