Biden-Harris Administration recommends funding of $1.3 million for projects in Georgia to strengthen Climate-Ready Coasts as part of Investing in America agenda

Today, Vice President Harris announced that the Department of Commerce has recommended $1.3 million for projects across Georgia to make communities and the economy more resilient to climate change, as part of the Investing in America agenda. Across Georgia, two projects will create jobs and boost economic and environmental outcomes for coastal communities. The awards are made under the Biden Administration’s Climate-Ready Coasts initiative funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) with additional funds leveraged from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). 

“Ossabaw Island has been home to Georgians and diverse wildlife populations for thousands of years,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Thanks to the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, we are investing in the next thousand years by helping restore important habitats and protecting shoreline ecosystems on the Island.”

Administered by the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Climate-Ready Coasts initiative is focused on investing in high-impact projects that create climate solutions by storing carbon; build resilience to coastal hazards such as extreme weather events, pollution and marine debris; restore coastal habitats that help wildlife and humans thrive; build the capacity of underserved communities and support community-driven restoration; and provide employment opportunities.

“Ossabaw Island and the traditional lands of the Gullah Geechee are seeing increased flooding and storm activity that puts ecological and resources in harm’s way,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “These recommended investments will help build living shorelines for Ossabaw Island, and allow the Gullah Geechee to develop tailored resilience plans that can guide future adaptation actions.” 

“Senator Warnock and I are delivering infrastructure upgrades to strengthen coastal resilience and protect our communities from tropical storms and coastal flooding,” Senator Jon Ossoff said. “Our bipartisan infrastructure law will deliver long-overdue upgrades to Georgia’s infrastructure for years to come.”

This project is part of NOAA’s nearly $6 billion total investment under BIL and IRA. Recommended projects and funding amounts in Georgia includes:

• Ossabaw Island Living Shoreline: A Collaboration to Model Resiliency through Ecosystem Restoration
  Georgia Department of Natural Resources Coastal Resources Division: $826,000
  Funding Source: Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Grants
  This project will result in the design and construction of a living shoreline on Ossabaw Island in Georgia. Significant ecological and cultural resources are being lost to erosion on the island due to an increase in storm events, wave frequency, and tidal inundation. The project will restore functional estuarine habitat and protect natural shoreline ecosystems, while preserving unique cultural and archeological resources. 
• Capacity Expansion to Support Habitat Restoration and Resilience in the Gullah Geechee Corridor
  Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor: $536,000
  Funding Source: Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities
  The Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor will create new staff positions to expand their work creating a plan for restoration and resilience across the Corridor, which stretches from North Carolina through Florida. The new positions will help build relationships between restoration organizations and Gullah Geechee communities, identify the resilience priorities of community members, and form local advisory committees to support future restoration efforts.