The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $400,000 in federal funding to the state of florida through the inflation reduction act

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is providing a $400,000 Cooperative Agreement award through the Inflation Reduction Act to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to build the climate resilience capacity of the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (Apalachicola NERR).

The funding will support an Apalachicola Regional Restoration Coordinator position within FDEP to strengthen partnerships, coordinate regional restoration efforts, and identify funding opportunities. Key responsibilities include leading the Apalachicola Bay System Initiative Community Advisory Board, collaborating with the Panhandle Estuarine Restoration Team, supporting workforce development, and coordinating with the Resilient Florida Program. This award under NOAA's Office for Coastal Management (CFDA 11.473) program aims to enhance environmental protection, climate adaptation, and community resilience in coastal areas.

This funding will build the ability of the apalachicola national estuarine research reserve within the florida department of environmental protection to implement projects, initiatives, and programs that increase the climate resilience of coastal communities within coastal counties. Specifically, apalachicola nerr will use these funds to support an apalachicola regional restoration coordinator position. This position will closely coordinate and strengthen partnerships with local and regional stakeholders to support the apalachicola BAY system initiative (ABSI) community advisory board (CAB) and serve as the ABSI successor group lead; serve as a lead collaborator among floridas estuarine restoration teams (FLERT), specifically the panhandle estuarine restoration team (PERT); support workforce coordination and capacity building with the conservation corps of the forgotten and emerald coasts; coordinate with the resilient florida program to develop a statewide restoration plan; coordinate with the apalachicola river watershed coordinator to identify data gaps/needs for restoration within the watershed/BAY; coordinate, develop, implement and monitor local/regional restoration projects and convene partners to identify and pursue appropriate funding opportunities.