Biden-Harris Administration recommends funding of $7.9 million for projects in Michigan to strengthen Climate-Ready Coasts as part of Investing in America agenda

A photo collage of just some of the projects being recommended for funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and NOAA's Climate-Ready Coasts initiative.

A photo collage of just some of the projects being recommended for funding under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and NOAA's Climate-Ready Coasts initiative. (Image credit: NOAA)

Today, Vice President Harris announced that the Department of Commerce has recommended $7.9 million for projects across Michigan to make communities and the economy more resilient to climate change, as part of the Investing in America agenda. Across Michigan, two projects will create jobs and boost economic and environmental outcomes. 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). 

“The Biden-Harris Administration is proud to support efforts to restore Michigan’s St. Clair shoreline that will benefit many native Great Lakes species and open the area up to visitors,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Thanks to President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, we will work with local communities to accelerate habitat restoration in some of the United States most vulnerable and valuable inland waters.”

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.

“The projects to restore habitat along Lake St. Clair and Ox Creek will connect Michiganders to their environment and produce tangible benefits in terms of improving public access, building community coalitions, and benefiting local wildlife,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “NOAA is proud to support work that recognizes healthy ecosystems benefit people as well as our environment, and are a key ingredient in building a resilient, Climate-Ready Nation.”

“We need to do everything we can to restore Michigan’s vibrant coastal habitats and communities that have been impacted by climate change and ensure that we’re making them more resilient to the impacts of severe weather in the future,” said Senator Gary Peters. “I’m proud to have helped enact the laws that are providing the funding for these important projects that will continue to make Michigan a better place to live, work and raise a family.”

These projects are part of NOAA’s nearly $6 billion total investment under BIL and IRA. Recommended projects and funding amounts in Michigan include:

  • Lower Lake St. Clair Habitat Restoration Project
    The Edsel and Eleanor Ford House: $7 million ($500,000 year 1; up to a total of $7 million over three years)
    Funding Source: Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grants
    This project will develop design plans to restore habitat along almost one mile of Lake St. Clair shoreline. Within Macomb County, nearly all of Lake St. Clair’s shoreline has been hardened, and this project site is one of the few remaining natural shoreline areas. When fully implemented, this project will benefit several native Great Lakes species. It is also expected to reduce impacts from waves and flooding, reduce polluted runoff and nutrient loads, and increase recreational fishing opportunities. The project will increase public access to the currently inaccessible shoreline for future educational and recreational activities, including low- to-no-cost field trips for area schoolchildren from Detroit.
  • Ox Creek Corridor Ecosystem Restoration  
    Southwest Michigan Planning Commission: $975,000
    Funding Source: Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities
    The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission will coordinate with the City of Benton Harbor to hire an administrator to manage an effort to revitalize the area surrounding Ox Creek. The new project administrator will help build a coalition of residents and local organizations, conduct community outreach and engagement, develop a habitat restoration plan that incorporates public input, and implement two pilot habitat restoration projects.