MARBLEHEAD — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $5.2 million in grants to support Massachusetts coastal communities in combating climate change impacts. The Office of Coastal Zone Management is helping fund innovative projects through the Coastal Resilience Program, including Marblehead’s Tucker’s Wharf Resilience Project for $210,502.
Marblehead will perform a site-specific analysis of coastal flood risk of town-owned properties and infrastructure in the State Street Landing area, including the Harbormaster’s Office, commercial and recreational boating and fishing facilities, and a waterfront park.
The project will engage the community on conceptual design plans to mitigate flooding and improve public access.
“These awards allow communities and nonprofits to implement important strategies that build safer, more equitable coastal environments,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “This is our moment to invest in resilience and adapt, and we are taking advantage of it.”
All 16 projects are designed to enhance local planning and shoreline management, empowering communities to proactively combat the immediate impacts of climate change.
This funding is crucial for building resilience and sustainability along the state’s coastlines as communities face more frequent storms, storm surges, flooding, erosion, and sea level rise.
“Climate change is not only an environmental threat to our coastline, it’s an economic threat to our state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The recent hurricanes have underscored the urgency of this issue, reminding us that we must be proactive in safeguarding our communities.”
The Coastal Resilience Grant Program provides funding and technical assistance to evaluate local vulnerabilities to coastal flooding and erosion. It also aims to raise community awareness and action on these issues, plan for changing conditions, redesign vulnerable community facilities and infrastructure, and restore shoreline systems to enhance natural resources and provide storm damage protection.
Grants advance feasibility assessments, public outreach and engagement, design, permitting, and implementation of projects.
“Through a whole-of-government approach, the Coastal Resilience Grant awards provide essential funding that would otherwise be a significant financial burden,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “These grants empower communities to develop and implement innovative strategies that strengthen their defense against climate impacts.”
Including these grants, over $51 million has been invested in 235 resilience improvement projects in 60 communities through the Coastal Resilience Grant Program since 2014.
“For more than 10 years, CZM has been working with local and regional partners through the Coastal Resilience Grant Program, providing funding to 60 coastal communities,” said CZM director Alison Brizius. “This is a true team effort that ensures local solutions can be taken from concept to on-the-ground action.”
This funding will continue to support comprehensive planning, infrastructure improvement, and shoreline restoration projects to reduce wave energy, erosion, and flooding impacts.
