Building upon a strong coastal resilience collaborative established after hurricane sandy, this project will implement a transformational resilience initiative across 16 coastal new jersey counties

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $144,986,898 Cooperative Agreement under the Office for Coastal Management (CFDA 11.473) program to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP). The 5-year project, starting October 1, 2024, aims to implement a transformational resilience initiative across 16 coastal New Jersey counties. Key components include creating a resilience planning and project design pipeline, supporting resilience projects in overburdened communities to restore wetlands, protect infrastructure, address flooding and urban heat, and create public access, as well as developing an education, climate awareness, training, and engagement initiative. The project builds upon NJDEP's existing coastal resilience collaborative established after Hurricane Sandy, leveraging the department's expertise in environmental management and its ability to collaborate with local municipalities, universities, and non-profit organizations to deliver comprehensive environmental protection and restoration projects.

The region includes some of the most densely developed areas in the country, new jersey?s largest cities and most rural landscapes, ecologically critical coastal areas, and many overburdened communities. This project will improve community readiness for natural solutions in support of ecosystem and community resilience goals by creating a resilience planning and project design pipeline that advances projects through design and implementation. Critical components of the project support transformational resilience projects in multiple overburdened communities that restore wetlands, protect critical infrastructure, address stormwater flooding and urban heat islands with green infrastructure, and create new public access and recreational opportunities. Additionally, the education, climate awareness, training, and engagement (educate) initiative will be developed and implemented to provide education, workforce development, training, and entrepreneurship opportunities throughout the region.