Biden-Harris Administration recommends funding of $6.9 million for projects in New York to strengthen Climate-Ready Coasts as part of Investing in America agenda

Today, Vice President Harris announced that the Department of Commerce has recommended $6.9 million for projects across New York to make communities and the economy more resilient to climate change, as part of the Investing in America agenda. Across New York, six projects will create jobs and boost economic and environmental outcomes for coastal communities. The awards are made under the Biden Administration’s Climate-Ready Coasts initiative funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) with additional funds leveraged from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). 

“Senator Schumer has been an incredible champion for environmental protection in New York and across the United States,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “Thanks to his work advancing President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, we are able to help make possible six critical projects that take a multi-pronged approach to clean up New York’s waterways through research, education, and action.”

Administered by the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Climate-Ready Coasts initiative is focused on investing in high-impact projects that create climate solutions by storing carbon; build resilience to coastal hazards such as extreme weather events, pollution and marine debris; restore coastal habitats that help wildlife and humans thrive; build the capacity of underserved communities and support community-driven restoration; and provide employment opportunities.

“New York’s recommended projects take different approaches to engaging people and communities to address significant issues of pollution in our waterways and restoring degraded watersheds – as well as training the next generation to be leaders in environmental stewardship,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “NOAA is proud to recommend projects that take a practical approach and recognize that improving the connection between people and their environment is how we can build healthier and more resilient coasts.”

“This crucial federal investment will help coastal communities in every corner of the Empire State, from the shores of Lake Ontario to the Hudson River, tackle the climate crisis by cleaning our waterways and bolstering critical infrastructure – all while putting New Yorkers to work and boosting our economy,” said Senate Majority Leader Schumer. “When I led the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to passage as Majority Leader, it was game changing investments in climate ready initiatives like these that I had in mind. From Long Island to Buffalo, I am proud to support communities across New York in leading the fight against climate change and building a cleaner, more resilient future for the next generation.”

“The federal funding being allocated to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation to create paid internship and training programs for underserved students in high school and college is an exceptional effort to educate upcoming leaders in our community,” said Congressman Gregory W. Meeks (NY-05). “Southeastern Queens, near Jamaica Bay, has the largest remaining area of marshes in New York City so it is important to have programs that implement habitat restoration projects on parklands. Plus, there’s an opportunity to further educate residents through environmental education events and volunteer opportunities. The federal aid provided through the BIL and IRA will positively impact coastal communities for years to come.”

“We must address climate change in order to create a better future for our community. This means making long-term investments that improve our freshwater systems and restore their natural habitats,” said Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26). “Thanks to historic investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, NOAA is providing the Western New York community long-overdue resources to restore the Scajaquada Creek watershed. Serving East Buffalo, Riverside, Black Rock, and parts of Cheektowaga, funding will create a healthier future for thousands of Western New Yorkers living in these communities.”

“I’m thrilled to celebrate the announcement of more than half a billion dollars from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to support the Climate-Ready Coasts initiative, including an award of nearly $2 million in IRA funding to remove harmful microplastic pollutants from the Hudson River Watershed,” said Congressman Paul Tonko (NY-20). “All of these worthy projects will advance high-impact infrastructure improvements, coastal resilience, and coastal zone management programs to not only help our communities prepare for the impacts of climate change, but also create good-paying jobs and promote the health of our marine ecosystems. I commend NOAA for their ongoing leadership and commitment to protecting New York coasts and our communities.”

“We are quickly running out of time to reverse the effects of climate change, so I was proud to pass the largest climate bill in history last Congress,” said Congressman Joe Morelle (NY-25). “By addressing the unique impact the climate crisis has on our coastal community, we can make real change and secure a livable future for the next generation of Rochesterians. I’m grateful to U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo for directing this funding for the removal of debris from the Lake Ontario Watershed and look forward to our continued work together to mitigate this impending disaster.”

“Everyone in the Hudson Valley deserves access to clean water, and after decades of pollution, that requires substantial investment in restoring the Hudson River,” said Congressman Pat Ryan (NY-18). “I will continue to fight every day to make sure funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act come right here to the Hudson Valley to combat climate change and protect this crucial waterway.”

These projects are part of NOAA’s nearly $6 billion total investment under BIL and IRA. Recommended projects and funding amounts in New York include:

• Developing Sustainable and Closed-Loop Solutions to Reduce Synthetic Fibers, Microplastics, and Nanoplastics Leakage from Laundry Systems into the Marine Environment
  New York Sea Grant: $2.9 million
  Funding Source: Marine Debris Challenge Competition
  This project’s goal is to plug the leak of microplastics and nanoplastics into our marine environments from domestic and commercial laundries by developing closed-loop solutions that use advanced ultrafiltration techniques and novel methods for reusing the filtered materials. This project aims to make this new plastic removal technology available for all communities, including traditionally underserved communities, and create easily-accessible outreach materials and curricula for communities, schools and teachers regionally and nationally. Outreach materials will be used by Sea Grant extension educators throughout New York and North Carolina.
• Aquatic Microplastic Filtration Device Research and Pilot Deployment
  New York Sea Grant: $1.9 million
  Funding Source: Marine Debris Challenge Competition
  This project will investigate development of river infrastructure for the removal of aquatic microplastic debris from a variety of effluents and polluted tributaries within the Hudson River Watershed in New York. This project aims to raise awareness of the extent of microplastic pollution in the watershed and also empower underrepresented communities to develop and refine microplastic remediation strategies.
• Community-Driven Restoration Priorities and Meaningful Engagement in Scajaquada Creek
  Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper: $901,000
  Funding Source: Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities 
  Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper will work toward restoring habitat in the highly impaired Scajaquada Creek watershed, collaborating closely with community members in the Black Rock, Riverside, East Side of Buffalo, and western Cheektowaga neighborhoods. They will build a coalition to engage community members, conduct stakeholder outreach to inform the creation of a restoration and resilience plan, and advance efforts to restore habitat along the creek. 
• Bridging the Gap: A Natural Areas Restoration Training & Professional Development Program 
  New York City Department of Parks and Recreation: $629,000
  Funding Source: Coastal Habitat Restoration and Resilience Grants for Underserved Communities 
  The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation will establish a paid internship and training program for economically disadvantaged and minority high school and college students. The program will implement habitat restoration projects on parklands in southeastern Queens near Jamaica Bay, which contains the largest remaining extent of marshes in New York City. It will also provide free and accessible programming to the local community, such as volunteer opportunities and environmental education events. 
• Mitigation of Stormwater-Derived Debris: A Community-Based Approach
  New York Sea Grant: $300,000
  Funding Source: Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions
  This project seeks to build a community network engaged in the prevention and remediation of stormwater-derived human-caused debris in the City of Rochester and the watershed of Lake Ontario. The project will expand a trash capture network of “Littatraps” and use a combined technical and community-based approach to reduce input of debris through mitigation, removal and education. Embedded in activities are career-readiness activities, designed to enhance participation of Rochester youth in environmental stewardship and careers.
• Community Science to Address Microplastic Pollution in Environmentally Underserved Watershed Communities in New Jersey and New York
  New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium: $284,000
  Funding Source: Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions
  New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium will partner with Columbia University’s Eco Ambassador program and with New York Sea Grant, through its summer K-12 community outreach, to develop timely and effective marine debris curricula and expand environmental literacy outreach to school districts from marginalized communities located in New Jersey and New York urban watersheds. Additionally, participants will be trained in community science approaches to collect water, soil and biological samples from their communities for plastic waste analysis.