Coastal Resilience Funding Opportunities for Defense Communities
Defense communities are those towns, cities and regional areas that are home to military installations, often, but not always adjacent, and economically tied to military missions. Military leadership collaborate with state, regional and local government, and private organizations to ensure military readiness and support families throughout the community. Coastal resilience, the ability for a community to withstand hazards such as hurricanes, extreme weather and flooding, has become an increasingly important concern to defense communities located on or near the coast. To increase coastal resilience, communities are building or retrofitting stormwater infrastructure, protecting against shoreline erosion, and preserving groundwater using natural and nature-based infrastructure.
Federal Grant Programs
| FUNDING PROGRAM | FUNDING AGENCY / PARTNERS | DESCRIPTION | ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS | ELIGIBLE PROJECTS | COST SHARE (% federal / % non-federal) | HISTORICAL FUNDING | APPLICATION TIMING | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REPI Challenge | Department of Defense | Cost-share for partnership projects that use natural resource conservation or nature-based infrastructure to improve climate resilience off-base and contribute to mission readiness | State, regional, local, territorial government, private conservation organization Must work with a military installation | Community Capacity Building and Planning Site Assessment and Preliminary Design Final Design and Permitting Restoration and Monitoring: easement acquisition to protect natural habitats | 50/50 (%DoD/ %non-DoD) **REPI can often be used as non-federal match | $40 million in FY2022 FY2021: 7 projects- $200K- 5.1mil | Pre-proposal required November, proposal March, announced June | LINK |
| OLDCC Military Installation Sustainability | Department of Defense | Grants to conduct planning processes that support resilience of defense communities through compatible use planning or Resilience Reviews and implementation | State, regional, local, territorial, tribal government Must work with a military installation | Community capacity building and planning processes | 90/10 | $10.35 mil in FY21 $8.01 mil in FY20 $9.14 mil in FY19 | Service can nominate in March call or out of cycle Community application is open | LINK |
| OLDCC- Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP) | Department of Defense | Grants to address deficiencies in community infrastructure, supportive of a military installation. | State, regional, local, territorial, tribal government and non-profit utilities. Must work with a military installation | Construction ready projects including off shore and shoreline infrastructure, flood control, wastewater, transportation | 70/30, no match required in small, rural areas | $68 million (FY2021) FY2021: 13 projects- $250,000- 10mil | Applications open in May and due in July | LINK |
| National Coastal Resilience Fund | National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)/ other partners | Grants to support coastal resilience projects that create or restore natural systems to help protect coastal communities from climate and extreme weather impacts. | State, regional, local, territorial, tribal government, non-profit org. educational institutions, for-profit organizations. | Community Capacity Building and Planning Site Assessment and Preliminary Design Final Design and Permitting Restoration and Monitoring. | 50/50 | $34 million (FY2021) | Pre-proposal required April, proposal June announced in November | LINK |
| Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund | National Fish and Wildlife Foundation/ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | Grants to support coastal resilience projects that create or restore natural systems to help protect coastal communities from climate and extreme weather impacts after a Presidential disaster declaration | State, regional, local, territorial, tribal government, non-profit org. educational institutions, for-profit organizations. | No match required | Varies depending on disaster declaration and appropriation | Varies depending on disaster declaration | LINK | |
| Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Grants | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) | Grants that restore habitat and support sustainable fisheries, help recover threatened or endangered species | Higher education, non-profits, for profit organizations, U.S. territories, and state, local, and tribal governments. | Coastal resilience projects include living shoreline and oyster restoration projects | No match required, 50/50 match recommended | $4 million (FY2020) Awards from $75,000 to $3 million | Pre-proposal, January, proposal April | LINK |
| National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grants | United States Fish and Wildlife Service | Grants to protect, restore and enhance coastal wetland ecosystems and associated upland | State agencies | Acquisition, restoration of coastal wetlands or maritime forests and phased projects | 75/25 (in-kind, cash or combination) | $19 million | Due in June, notify in Jan-March | LINK |
| Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) | Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) /State Emergency Management | Grants to support state, local, tribe and territory governments for project planning, development and implementation. Projects must reduce future hazard risk. | State, territory, tribal government is applicant, subapplicant- local govt | Capacity-Building (e.g., project scoping, partnerships, mitigation planning and planning-related activities; Mitigation Projects; Management Costs | 75/25 generally, 90/10 small/ impoverished will pay management costs | $1 billion (FY2021) | FY2022 federal application due Jan, state deadlines vary | LINK |
| Hazard Mitigation Grant Program | Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) /State Emergency Management | Grants to support projects on public or private property that reduce loss of life and property damage in accordance with hazard mitigation plans and after a Presidential disaster declaration | State, territory, tribal government is applicant, subapplicant- local govt, non-profit | Property acquisition, structure elevation, dry floodproofing, infrastructure retrofit, code enforcement, aquifer and storage recovery, , floodplain and stream restoration, green infrastructure, other | 75/25 generally, will pay management costs | Varies depending on disaster declaration | Varies depending on declared disaster | LINK |
| Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant | Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) /State Emergency Management | Grants for planning and projects to reduce or eliminate risk of flood damage to buildings that are insured annually under the National Flood Insurance Program. | State, territory, tribal government is applicant, subapplicant- local govt, non-profit | Property acquisition, structure elevation, mitigation reconstruction, dry floodproofing, infrastructure retrofit, aquifer and storage recovery, flood diversion and storage, floodplain and stream restoration, green infrastructure, other | 75/25 | $160 million (FY 2021) | FY2022 federal application due Jan, state deadlines vary | LINK |
| Planning Assistance to States | Department of Defense/ US Army Corps of Engineers | Corps can prepare plans for the development, utilization, and conservation of water including flood control, located within the boundaries of the State. The Corps can provide concept designs only. | State, territory, tribal government and NGOs | Studies of water or water-related resources - Watershed Planning, GIS mapping (water, sewer, and storm), Hydrologic and hydraulic , Shoreline Protection, etc. | 50/50 (can be in-kind) | Request for program by letter of intent | LINK | |
| Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) Section 103: Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Section 204: Beneficial Use of Dredge Material Section 205: Flood Damage Reduction Section 206: Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Section 1135: Improvements to the Environment | Department of Defense/ US Army Corps of Engineers | Partnership program to study, design, and construct small coastal storm damage reduction. Water resources and ecosystem restoration projects. Each project must be economically justified, environmentally sound, and technically feasible. | Cities, counties, special authorities, or units of state government | Emergency streambank and shoreline protection for public facilities like roads, bridges, schools, and water/sewage treatment plants that are in danger of failing; Protection of public and private properties/facilities against damages caused by storms through the construction of revetments, groins and jetties; Use of dredged material from federal projects for the reduction in storm damages to property and to protect, restore, or create habitats, including wetlands; Aquatic ecosystem restoration; projects. | For study, no match up to $100,000, costs over 50/50 Final Design 65/35 | $69.5 million in FY21 $72 million in FY20 $66 million in FY19 | Request for program by letter of intent | LINK |
| Planning Assistance to States | Department of Defense/ US Army Corps of Engineers | Corps can prepare plans for the development, utilization, and conservation of water including flood control, located within the boundaries of the State. The Corps can provide concept designs only. | State, territory, tribal government and NGOs | Studies of water or water-related resources - Watershed Planning, GIS mapping (water, sewer, and storm), Hydrologic and hydraulic , Shoreline Protection, etc. | 50/50 (can be in-kind) | Request for program by letter of intent | LINK | |
| Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) | Department of Housing and Urban Development | Funds a variety of community development activities to build stronger and more resilient communities. Must substantially benefit low- and moderate-income communities | Local government, cities with populations of 50,000+ or counties with 200,000+ with substantial community need based on poverty, overcrowding, etc. | Infrastructure, such as stormwater, economic development projects, public facilities installation and improvement, community centers, beautification of public areas, restoration and conservation, etc. | Grants of $300,001 to $750,000 - 5% local matching funds required. Grants of more than $750,001 - 10% local matching funds required. | $750,000 for Single-Activity and $1,000,000 for Multi-Activity (two or more jurisdictions) | June application deadline (2021) | LINK |
| Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program (CDBG-DR) | Department of Housing and Urban Development | Provides funding to rebuild affected areas and provide seed money to start recovery. These flexible grants help cities, counties, and States recover from Presidentially declared disasters, especially in low-income areas, subject to availability of supplemental appropriations. | Same as CBDG, but also a disaster declaration | Same as CDBG, with an emphasis on recovery after a disaster | Matching funds not required | Varies depending on declared disaster | Varies depending on declared disaster | LINK |
| Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program | Department of Agriculture | Financial and technical assistance for watershed protection, water quality improvements, erosion and sediment control, and habitat enhancement. | County agencies, soil and water conservation districts, flood prevention/flood control districts, or other subunits of state government | Watershed and Wildlife Projects that provide erosion and sediment control, watershed protection, flood prevention, and water quality improvements | 50/50 for most projects, 65/35 for erosion and sediment control | $175 million FY20 $150 million FY19 $150 million FY18 $150 million FY17 | Application period: March/ April | LINK |
| Emergency Watershed Protection Program | Department of Agriculture | Quickly protect infrastructure and land from additional flooding and soil erosion. EWP does not require a disaster declaration by federal or state government officials to begin. The NRCS State Conservationist can declare a local watershed emergency and the program assistance with an eligible sponsor. | Cities, counties, towns, conservation districts, or any federally recognized Native American tribe or tribal organization | Remove debris from stream channels, culverts and bridges; reshape and protect eroded streambanks; correct damaged or destroyed drainage facilities; establish vegetative cover on critically eroding lands; repair levees and structures; repair certain conservation practices, and purchase floodplain easements | 75/25 | Varies depending on emergency | Varies depending on emergency | LINK |
| Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program | Department of Agriculture | The WFPO Program provides technical and financial assistance to States, local governments and Tribes (project sponsors) to plan and implement authorized watershed project plans. | Federal, state, local and tribal government sponsorship for projects up to 250,000 acres. | Erosion and sediment control Watershed protection Flood prevention Water quality Improvements Rural, municipal and industrial water supply Water management Fish and wildlife habitat enhancement Hydropower sources | Varies | LINK | ||
| Public Works Assistance Programs/ Economic Adjustment Program | US Economic Development Administration- Department of Commerce | Annually available supplemental funding to assist distressed communities nationwide with a wide variety of economic needs including disaster recovery | State, Local and tribal government, nonprofits, some other eligible entities | Disaster recovery and economic resiliency programs, post- disaster strategic planning, infrastructure development and key business assistance. | Varies by program | Varies by year, for example Build Back Better- $100 million in FY21 | Varies by program | LINK |
| Overflow and Stormwater Grants | Environmental Protection Agency | Provides funding for critical stormwater infrastructure projects in communities including combined sewer overflows and sanitary sewer overflows. | States, territories | Installation of separate sanitary and storm sewers; infiltration/inflow correction; stormwater collection systems; Green Infrastructure; or other capital projects the mitigate sewer overflows or stormwater concerns | 80/20 | $28 million in 2020 $40 million in 2021 | LINK | |
| Environmental Justice Grants | Environmental Protection Agency | Supports community-driven projects designed to engage, educate, and empower communities to better understand local environmental and public health issues and develop strategies for addressing those issues, building consensus in the community, and setting community priorities. | Non-profit organizations, us territories, tribal governments and organizations | Projects must be associated with at least one qualified environmental statue. Project emphasis areas include water quality, stormwater and green infrastructure, emergency preparedness and disaster resiliency, and environmental education. | No match | In FY2021, $7.4 million total for grants up to $75,000 | Application due June | LINK |
State Grant Programs
| FUNDING PROGRAM | FUNDING AGENCY / PARTNERS | DESCRIPTION | ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS | ELIGIBLE PROJECTS | COST SHARE (% federal / % non-federal) | HISTORICAL FUNDING | APPLICATION TIMING | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Incentive Grants (GA) | Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division | Grants to address local and regional coastal resource protection priorities, balance economic development while protecting natural and cultural resources and support research in areas of specific coastal management needs. | Local government in the 11 coastal county service area, state affiliated research and educational institutions and regional and state agencies. | Research, Planning, Education/outreach, and Construction/ Acquisition projects addressing oceans and wetlands issues, coastal resilience, non-point source pollution, public access and land conservation. | 50/50 | $80,000 per year for up to 2 years | Pre-application December, full application February, notify April, start October | LINK |
| 319 Water Quality programs | State Departments of Natura; Resources or Environmental Protection | Nonpoint Source Implementation Grants fund the implementation of projects that reduce pollution and improve water quality, following a watershed-based plan | Local government regional and State agencies; authorities/utilities (e.g. sewer, water); regional commissions; resource conservation councils; local school systems and State universities | Project that implements part or all of a watershed plan. Best management practices (BMPs). Need to identify pollutant and measurable improvement. | 60/40 | Varies by state, nationally $172.3 mil (FY 2020) | March/April application Summer/fall award and begin projects | LINK |
| North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NC) | North Carolina Division of Land And Water Stewardship | Grants for land acquisition, restoration, innovative stormwater projects and planning to improve water quality, sustain diversity and protect historic sites and military installations. | Local government, state agencies, and non-profit corporation with a conservation purpose | Land acquisition, restoration including living shoreline projects, planning projects, innovative stormwater research projects | No matching required | In FY201 83 projects total $60 million | February application due | LINK |
| Resilience Planning Grants (FL) | Florida Department of Environmental Protection | Grants to analyze and plan for vulnerabilities, as well as implement projects for adaptation and mitigation | Counties, municipalities, water management districts, flood control districts and regional resilience entities | Comprehensive plan amendments, vulnerability assessments, development of projects, plans or policies. | No match required | FY21-22 $20 million | September proposal due, more detailed final application may be necessary | LINK |
Finance Programs
| FUNDING PROGRAM | FUNDING AGENCY / PARTNERS | DESCRIPTION | ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS | ELIGIBLE PROJECTS | COST SHARE (% federal / % non-federal) | HISTORICAL FUNDING | APPLICATION TIMING | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revolving Loan programs | Many states have revolving loan programs | Loans to support local energy, land and water resource management, such as water and sewer financing and land conservation | Local governments, districts, state authorities or other political subdivisions and nongovernmental entities with the primary purpose of conserving land | N/A | Varies | Varies | LINK |