Baker-Polito Administration Announces $2.2M for Coastal Protection

The Baker-Polito Administration yesterday announced more than $2.2 million in funding to support local efforts to increase community preparedness and resilience to coastal storm and climate change impacts, including storm surges, flooding, erosion and rising sea levels, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts informs.

These grants were provided by the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM).

Fifty-one resilience projects have been completed under the Baker-Polito Administration with an investment of over $6.8 million for these projects.

“Protecting and preparing Massachusetts’ extensive residential and commercial developments, port facilities, habitats and natural resources from changing climate conditions along our coast is a priority for our administration,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We are committed to addressing these challenges and pleased to provide more than $2 million to coastal communities to adapt and prepare for future storms.”

“Massachusetts is home to 78 coastal communities with unique economic assets that drive sustainable growth,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, who also serves as Chair of the Seaport Economic Council. “Today’s grants will help more than a dozen communities from Cape Cod to the North Shore and the South Coast better protect the assets that help drive their local communities.”

The following 16 projects have been funded in this grant round:

• Dennis – $133,300;
• Duxbury Beach Reservation, Inc. – $36,340;
• Eastham – $79,676;
• Essex – $71,450;
• Falmouth – $124,695;
• Gloucester – $97,500;
• Kingston – $497,725;
• Marshfield – $36,000;
• Mattapoisett – $67,800;
• New Bedford – $153,045;
• Northeastern University – $202,950;
• Salem – $11,250;
• Scituate – $210,000;
• Wareham – $101,100;
• Weymouth – $397,500;
• Winthrop – $77,550.