Duxbury, Mass – Tuesday, September 9, 2014 – Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett today announced the second round of funding for two grant programs to address risks of coastal storms and sea level rise, reduce erosion and protect coastal areas from storm damage and flooding through the Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM). The grants, available to coastal cities and towns, are part of the Patrick Administration’s record investment in climate change initiatives.
“Climate change and the resulting sea level rise and increased frequency and intensity of storms are major issues on our coast,” said Secretary Bartlett. “These two grant programs provide direct funds to coastal communities to help address impacts of erosion and storm damage.”
“We are pleased to offer these grants to get financial resources and technical support to coastal communities and nonprofit groups working to identify and implement effective solutions to reduce risk associated with coastal storms and sea level rise,” said Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Director Bruce Carlisle. “Together we’ll develop model strategies that can be used along the coast to address climate change impacts while protecting the coastal environment.”
In January, Governor Patrick announced a coordinated plan for climate preparedness to increase resiliency across the Commonwealth. In addition to these coastal community grants, the plan includes a $40 million municipal energy initiative to help cities and towns implement clean energy technologies to improve resiliency at critical facilities, including emergency shelters and hospitals.
Administered by CZM, the Coastal Community Resilience Grant Program will provide up to $1.5 million in grants and technical resources to advance innovative local efforts addressing climate change and sea level rise impacts. The funds will finance initiatives to increase awareness of these issues, assess vulnerability and risk and implement measures to respond, recover and adapt to coastal impacts. Applicants may request up to $350,000 in funding and all 78 coastal communities in the Commonwealth are eligible. While proposals must be submitted by cities or towns, municipalities are encouraged to partner with nonprofit or regional planning partners.
Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 10, and must provide a match of at least 25 percent of the total project cost in either cash or in-kind contributions. For more information about the Coastal Community Resilience Grant Program and the Request for Responses (RFR), see www.mass.gov/czm/community-resilience-grants.
The Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resilience Pilot Grants Program, also administered by CZM, will provide up to $1.5 million in funding and technical resources for natural approaches addressing coastal erosion and flooding problems. Grants can be used for planning, feasibility assessment, design, permitting, construction and monitoring of green infrastructure projects that use natural approaches instead of hard structures such as seawalls and groins. Applicants may request up to $750,000 in funding. All 78 coastal communities in the Commonwealth, as well as nonprofit organizations with vulnerable coastal property that is publicly accessible, are eligible. Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 10, and must provide a match of at least 25 percent of the total project cost in either cash or in-kind contributions. For more information about the Green Infrastructure for Coastal Resilience Pilot Grants Program and the Request for Responses, see www.mass.gov/czm/green-infrastructure-grants.
The Office of Coastal Zone Management is the lead policy and planning agency on coastal and ocean issues within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Through planning, technical and grant assistance and public information programs, CZM seeks to balance the impacts of human activity with the protection of coastal and marine resources. The agency’s work includes helping coastal communities anticipate and plan for sea level rise and other effects of climate change, working with cities and towns and the federal government to develop boat sewage no discharge areas and partnering with communities and other organizations to restore coastal and aquatic habitats.
