A Competitive Funding Opportunity

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. This page is focused on the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge, which is administered by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management. (For information on NOAA’s other Inflation Reduction Act investments, visit this webpage.)

• The focus of this grant program is on collaborative approaches to achieving resilience in coastal regions. Proposed projects should address risk reduction, regional collaboration, and equity, and build enduring capacity for adaptation. Use this information resource, and view the video below, to learn more.

• NOAA technical assistance is available for organizations applying for and receiving a grant. Many technical assistance options are available, including data, tools, training, and access to NOAA expertise. Visit the technical assistance page to learn more.

  Ver video en español.

Basic Information for Applicants

The first step was for applicants to submit a letter of intent. The deadline for this was August 23, 2023. From these letters, NOAA will invite those who meet the criteria to submit full applications.

Decisions will be announced in early October. Applicants who are invited to submit a full application will have until Tuesday, February 13, 2024, to do so.

Here is a list of resources to support the full application phase:

• Notice of Funding Opportunity
  • Summary in English and Spanish
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Budget Template
• Budget Narrative Guidance
• Required Grants Forms
• For organizations who have never applied for a federal grant, you must register with these three systems (see below). Please do so as soon as possible, as this process can take up to two months.
  • SAM.gov
  • Grants.gov
  • eRA.nih.gov
    • Note: Here’s a video to help you with this last registration process.

  For more information or to ask questions, contact NOAA at resiliencechallenge@noaa.gov.