Coastal Resilience Grants

The Coastal Resilience Grants program is administered by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Coastal Program with funding support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under the Coastal Zone Management Act. The program is designed to strengthen the ability of coastal communities and ecosystems in New Hampshire to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Coastal resilience is defined broadly to include not only the ability to recover from disturbances such as storms and flooding, but also to proactively advance long-term environmental, social, and economic sustainability. The program has funded multiple projects since 2014, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to resilience planning and capacity building across the state’s coastal zone. The purpose of the grant is to support projects that build capacity, advance planning efforts, or develop designs that enhance community and habitat resilience. Eligible projects must fall into one of three categories: capacity building, planning, or design. Capacity-building projects focus on strengthening community networks, knowledge, and resources. Planning projects develop assessments, plans, or regulatory frameworks that guide resilience efforts. Design projects advance conceptual or partial engineering designs, up to 75 percent completion, for resilience-related infrastructure or nature-based solutions. Construction, final engineering design, and permitting activities are explicitly prohibited due to federal review constraints and timeline limitations. Funding for the program is limited, with approximately $100,000 available for the 2026 cycle and an expectation of funding three to four projects. Individual awards must fall between $15,000 and $40,000. While a non-federal match is not required, applicants are encouraged to provide a 4:1 ratio of federal funds to match, which can include both cash and in-kind contributions. Applicants may request a reduced or waived match if they can justify how it would improve accessibility to the program. Eligibility is limited to coastal municipalities, quasi-governmental organizations, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, and state agencies. Projects must be located within one or more of the 17 designated New Hampshire Coastal Zone communities, including Dover, Durham, Portsmouth, Hampton, and others. Private individuals and property owners are not eligible as lead applicants but may participate as partners. The program encourages applications from communities that have historically had limited access to resilience funding. Applications must be submitted through the official Coastal Resilience Grants application form. The application includes detailed sections covering project summary, purpose, environmental context, community engagement, work plan, budget, and supporting documentation such as letters of commitment and support. Proposals are evaluated using a 50-point scoring system that emphasizes project feasibility, environmental impact, collaboration, and advancement of environmental justice. Additional points are awarded to applicants who have not previously received funding under this program. The 2026 application cycle opened on April 6, 2026, and closes on June 5, 2026 at 4:00 PM Eastern Time. An informational webinar is scheduled for April 21, 2026, and optional office hours are available for applicant support. Award notifications are expected by June 25, 2026, with final project scopes due by August 28, 2026. Projects are anticipated to begin between November 2026 and January 2027, pending approvals, and must be completed by June 30, 2028. The program is recurring annually, with future cycles expected based on continued funding availability.

Emphasize collaboration and community engagement; align project clearly with resilience goals; demonstrate feasibility and measurable outcomes; include strong partner roles and environmental justice considerations