Coastal Resilience Grant Program

The Coastal Resilience Grant Program, administered through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), supports local and regional initiatives that strengthen resilience against the impacts of climate change along the Massachusetts coastline. As part of the newly established Environment & Climate One Stop (ECO One Stop) initiative, this grant is accessed via a unified application process intended to reduce administrative burden and improve accessibility for municipalities, tribal governments, and eligible nonprofit organizations. This grant program targets projects within the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and offers funding for efforts that address coastal flooding, erosion, and sea level rise. Eligible activities include land use planning, regulatory updates, seawall upgrades or removals, culvert or small bridge upgrades, critical infrastructure retrofitting or relocation, land acquisition, wetland restoration, and public engagement efforts to foster social resilience. The goal is to improve storm damage protection and enhance natural and built systems for long-term climate adaptation. Applicants may request funding for project durations of one or two years. The typical maximum funding request per application is up to $2,000,000. A 10 percent match—either in cash or in-kind—is required, with exemptions provided for Tribal governments and designated rural and small towns. This matching requirement applies across all ECO One Stop participating programs, including the Coastal Resilience Grant Program. Strong proposals demonstrate the use of nature-based solutions, the adaptation of vulnerable infrastructure, public engagement, and benefits to Environmental Justice and tribal communities. Projects that include detailed tasks, defined budgets, and regional collaboration are prioritized, especially if they yield transferable products and foster shared learning opportunities. Eligible applicants must be situated within the Massachusetts Coastal Zone and include coastal municipalities, tribal governments, and certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. The program also emphasizes broad public access to coastal areas and the integration of community support into resilience planning efforts. The grant encourages the use of supporting tools and data such as the CZM Grant Viewer, ResilientCoasts Initiative, and the Massachusetts Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Viewer to aid in project development and impact assessment. Specific application deadlines, contact persons, and technical assistance timelines were not provided in the current document and will require verification or consultation with the EEA for updates.