New Jersey awarded $72.5 million to protect its shoreline from climate change destruction

New Jersey will receive $72.5 million in federal funds to help protect its shores from climate change and other coastal hazards.

Building A Climate Ready New Jersey is set to receive the funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge. The $575 million competition was funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The Garden State's project was one of 19 winning projects from across the U.S.

The award was advocated for by legislators including U.S Reps. Andy Kim, Rob Menendez, Donald Norcross and Frank Pallone Jr.

The project aims to restore wetlands, protect critical infrastructure, use green infrastructure to address stormwater flooding and urban heat islands and create new public access to coastal waterways and recreational opportunities, according to NOAA. Funding also will go toward education, workforce development, training and entrepreneurship opportunities.

“As New Jerseyans continue to feel the threats of extreme weather and flooding, the time for resilience action is now," Kim said in a news release. "I am proud that this award will bring federal dollars back to our state to help protect our Jersey Shore and coast communities. By bolstering our resilience across 16 coastal New Jersey counties, this project will help look after people’s safety, livelihoods and the security of our coastal economies, all while uplifting a new generation of students and workers prepared to implement critical resilience projects."

Pallone, who hosted a news conference about the award in Perth Amboy last week, called the initiatives to protect the shore "crucial." He said the projects will promote natural flood barriers in communities, including work like oyster reefs along shorelines to slow down storm surge or plant installations, like gardens along city streets and new permeable parking lots, that reduce runoff during extreme rain events.

“We are preparing for the challenge of climate change but also creating a more sustainable and resilient future for all New Jersey residents and coastal wildlife. As a longtime champion of legislation to support living shorelines, I was proud to lead the charge to secure these investments through the Inflation Reduction Act," Pallone said.

The project will prioritize assistance to disadvantaged communities, which Kim says encompasses 432 municipalities.

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Pallone says the award will advance hundreds of resilience projects that have long been unfunded, in tandem with $10 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and NOAA that he championed to hire design consultants to work with communities including Woodbridge, Perth Amboy, Sayreville, South River, Old Bridge, Carteret, South Amboy, Middletown, Highlands, Sea Bright, Monmouth Beach, Long Branch, West Long Branch, Little Silver, Fair Haven, Red Bank, Oceanport and Sandy Hook in the 6th District.

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“As part of President (Joe) Biden’s commitment to combating the climate crisis, we are investing $575 million to help make sure America’s coastal communities are more resilient to the effects of climate change,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo . “As part of this historic investment in our nation’s climate resilience, the Biden-Harris Administration is investing $72.5 million to help underserved communities in New Jersey develop and implement new strategies to protect themselves from flooding, storm surge, and extreme weather events.”

NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad says that reducing risks are integral to strengthening communities as they work toward equitable climate resilient futures.

“This funding provides New Jersey with climate data and services, technical assistance and critical resources that support transformational resilience, restoration and adaptation in support of the exceptionally strong demand for these types of projects," he said.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: New Jersey awarded $72.5 million to protect its shoreline from climate change destruction