NOAA Coastal Resilience and Habitat Restoration Investments

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) aims to leverage the historic investments of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to bolster resilience, economic development, and habitat restoration in coastal communities across the United States. To inform future policy and grantmaking decisions, NOAA’s Performance, Risk, and Social Science Office worked with Ocean Associates, Inc. (OAI) and ERG to evaluate the impact of its BIL and IRA grant-funded programs and assess their long-term value for coastal resilience.

ERG evaluated the impacts of NOAA’s BIL and IRA grant-funded programs by estimating the economic, community, and ecosystem benefits expected from eight key investments. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, ERG assessed the anticipated return on investment for coastal communities, states, and regions. Because many projects were in early stages, ERG used available data to model and estimate potential outcomes, focusing on economic impact, community engagement, and ecosystem services. The findings of ERG’s and OAI’s analysis highlighted substantial economic impacts, including the creation of over 7,800 jobs and $1.4 billion in economic output. In addition, these projects will engage communities and tribes and restore culturally significant ecosystems. Over time, ecosystem improvements will enhance resilience, reduce risks, and provide lasting environmental and economic benefits to coastal communities across the United States and its territories.