NOAA, Biden-Harris Administration announce $1.97 million for joint Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware project as part of Investing in America Agenda

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have recommended $1.97 million for a project in Virginia to make the state’s coast more resilient to climate change and other coastal hazards.

The project encompasses rural coastal communities in the Delmarva region of Virginia, Delaware and Maryland. The awards are being made under the Biden Administration’s Climate Resilience Regional Challenge, a competitive, $575 million program funded through the nearly $6 billion total investment under the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. 

“As part of President Biden’s commitment to combating the climate crisis, we are investing $575 million to help make sure America’s coastal communities are more resilient to the effects of climate change,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “As part of this historic investment in our nation’s climate resilience the Biden-Harris Administration is investing $1.97 million to help underserved communities in Virginia develop and implement new strategies to protect themselves from the impacts of climate change.” 

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

“To be a climate-ready coast and nation, the issues facing our farmers must be met,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “This project will help ensure the continuation of our food supply and farming as a means of supporting families.” 

The recommended project and $1,973,267 in total funding will be led by Virginia Tech. The project, Leveraging Cooperative Extension to Build an Enduring Capacity for Equitable and Inclusive Resilience in Rural Agricultural Communities across Coastal Virginia, Maryland and Delaware will be a joint, multistate effort that includes establishing a regional collaborative to support climate resilience in rural communities in the Delmarva region, where agriculture plays a key role in the local economy and culture.

As project leads, principal investigators at Virginia Tech, Wendy Stout, director of the Virginia Tech Coastal Collaborator Center, and Julie Shortridge, an associate professor in the Department Biological Systems Engineering, are excited to lead this project to help strengthen connections between land grant and sea grant extension services, localities, and nonprofit organizations across all three states.  

"As a land grant university, we are in a unique position to continue the long tradition of working to find practical solutions to foster community engagement in rural climate resilience initiatives, and provide guidance on resiliency options for farmers, landowners, and businesses,” Stout said.

Other collaborators on the Virginia Tech led project include: Virginia State University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, University of Maryland, Delaware State University, University of Delaware, Delaware Wild Lands, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Resilient Virginia, Mid-Atlantic Black Farmers Caucus, Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission, Maryland Department of Planning, University of Virginia Institute for Engagement and Negotiation, and 2Collaborate Consulting.

Project partners will conduct a needs assessment and a series of community listening sessions to identify current capabilities, challenges, and opportunities to increase resilience, particularly in low-income, minority and agricultural communities. An educational component will help address these challenges. This project will create enduring capacity to initiate and participate in climate adaptation and resilience projects. Challenges addressed with this project include sea level rise, temperature changes, changing precipitation patterns and the impact on communities and agriculture.  

“I’m thrilled to see Virginia Tech receive nearly 2 million dollars in federal funding to boost climate resilience in coastal communities across Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. I was proud to support this project that will give Virginians the tools they need to adapt to the ever-changing threat of climate change,” said Senator Mark Warner.

“I’m pleased Virginia Tech will receive nearly $2 million in federal funding to bolster climate resiliency in our rural communities,” said Senator Tim Kaine. “This will play a crucial role in preserving agriculture in coastal Virginia — a key pillar of our economy — and keep Virginians safe from the impacts of climate change. I’m proud to have helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act, which made this funding possible, and I look forward to helping this project come to fruition.”

"The Inflation Reduction Act is connecting experts from our public colleges and universities with communities throughout the commonwealth. This collaboration between Virginia Tech and the Delmarva region will not only support the local economy, but it will also help us achieve our climate goals and restore the Chesapeake Bay. Farmers play a key role in our sustainability efforts, and we must support them as they adopt new strategies," said Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03).

Additional information is available on the Climate Resilience Regional Challenge website.