This project aligns with USDA sbir/sttr phase i program, research priority 8.6.c on reducing rural vulnerabilities (excluding terrorism) under research topic 8.6 on rural and community development

Mighty Seawall Inc. (doing business as Kind Designs), a woman-owned small disadvantaged business, received $124,989 under the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program (CFDA 10.212) with an award date of September 1, 2025, and completion date of April 30, 2026. The company is developing a library of 3D-printed living seawalls designed to protect rural fishery communities from coastal vulnerabilities including water quality degradation, rising sea levels, and storm surge while simultaneously restoring marine ecosystems. The project delivers prototype habitat structures that mimic natural coastal environments such as coral reefs, mangroves, oyster reefs, and seagrass meadows, using eco-friendly concrete materials.

Under this Phase I award, the awardee will design, fabricate, and prototype 3D-printed habitat structures optimized for specific coastal conditions, with performance location in Miami, Florida. The anticipated deliverables include improved coastal resilience infrastructure, enhanced fishery sustainability, and reduced environmental impact through scalable, cost-effective seawalls that integrate ecological restoration with coastal defense. This initiative aligns with the USDA 2023-2026 Science and Research Strategy, specifically supporting the acceleration of innovative technologies and the cultivation of resilient ecosystems in rural communities.

IT supports the USDA 2023-2026 science and research strategy goals: accelerating innovative technologies & practices, driving solutions, and cultivating resilient ecosystems. The project aims to address the escalating challenges faced by rural fishery communities, particularly the vulnerabilities posed by degrading water quality, rising sea levels, and increased storm surges. Traditional coastal protection methods often degrade vital ecosystems such as wetlands and mangroves, while also requiring costly and frequent repairs. This proposal seeks to develop a library of 3D-printed living seawalls™, which mimic natural coastal habitats (e.g., coral reefs, mangroves, oyster reefs, and seagrass meadows), to enhance coastal defenses while restoring marine ecosystems.objectives include:1: design, fabricate, and prototype 3D-printed habitat structures for coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass meadows, and oyster REEFS2: optimize 3D-printed habitat structures for specific coastal conditions and impact assessmentthe anticipated results include improved coastal resilience, increased fishery sustainability, and reduced environmental impact through the use of ECO-friendly concretes. The project offers a significant commercial application by creating scalable, cost- effective seawalls that not only protect rural communities from risks but also support local fisheries and ecosystems.