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- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Energy | Environment
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday that it would dedicate up to $15 million in tribal-specific funding as part of a broader $100 million habitat restoration and coastal resilience grant program.
The set-aside funding will be available to U.S. tribes, Alaska Native corporations and tribal-affiliated organizations as part of funding made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The tribal allocation came in direct response to feedback from tribes, according to NOAA's announcement.
The broader program aims to support projects that restore marine, estuarine, coastal or Great Lakes ecosystems, with a focus on rebuilding sustainable fisheries and recovering threatened and endangered species. Projects can range from planning and assessments to engineering design and monitoring.
"Under the Biden-Harris Administration, the Department of Commerce has delivered historic amounts of funding for habitat restoration and coastal resilience that will help strengthen the economies of coastal communities across America," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said in a statement. "These investments have been transformative and will continue to support Tribes and communities on the front lines of the climate crisis, sustain our nation's fisheries and protect ecosystems from the impacts of climate change for years to come."
NOAA indicated it would prioritize projects that demonstrate broad stakeholder and community support, encouraging proposals that incorporate "meaningful strategies" to engage diverse community groups, including tribes and underserved communities.
"Through funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, NOAA is committed to working with partners, including tribes and underserved communities, to realize the environmental, cultural and economic benefits of habitat restoration," said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries.
The funding represents the latest round of grants through NOAA's Community-based Habitat Restoration Program, which has helped implement more than 2,200 coastal habitat restoration projects since 1996. Those projects have restored more than 94,000 acres of habitat and opened more than 4,400 stream miles for fish passage, according to the announcement.
