The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $875,000 in federal funding to the state of north carolina through the inflation reduction act

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is providing a $875,000 Cooperative Agreement award through the Office for Coastal Management (CFDA 11.473) program to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). This funding will support NCDEQ's North Carolina Coastal Zone Management Program (NC CZM) in implementing projects, initiatives, and programs that increase the climate resilience of coastal communities within North Carolina's coastal counties. Specifically, the award will fully fund a full-time position to provide guidance and direct support to local governments for incorporating long-term resilience into their comprehensive planning. The position will also support implementing resilience-focused work at six sites within the North Carolina Coastal Reserve System, such as developing updated habitat maps, producing shoreline change data, conducting wildfire management planning, and assessing maritime forest health. This Cooperative Agreement award from NOAA aims to enhance environmental protection, climate adaptation, and community resilience throughout North Carolina's coastal regions.

This funding will increase the ability of the north carolina coastal zone management program (NC CZM) within the north carolina department of environmental quality, division of coastal management, to implement projects, initiatives, and programs that increase the climate resilience of coastal communities within coastal counties. Specifically, NC CZM will use these funds to fully support a full time position and fund resilience planning activities for the north carolina coastal reserve system within the division of coastal management. The position will provide formal guidance and direct support to local governments for incorporating long-term resilience into their comprehensive planning. Additionally, the position will support implementation of resilience-focused work and activities eligible under the coastal zone management act at six sites within the north carolina coastal reserve system by prioritizing resilience project needs and developing project designs and contracts for implementation. Project needs include developing updated habitat maps, producing updated shoreline position change data, wildfire management planning at maritime forest sites, and understanding maritime forest health in a changing climate.