Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental…

THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION (NOAA) IS PROVIDING ONGOING FUNDING THROUGH THE NATIONAL COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS TO HELP ADMINISTER THE FEDERALLY APPROVED COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. THE NATIONAL COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, UNDER THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT, IS AN IMPORTANT VOLUNTARY FEDERAL-STATE PARTNERSHIP THAT PROTECTS, RESTORES, AND RESPONSIBLY DEVELOPS OUR NATIONS COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND RESOURCES BY BALANCING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, COASTAL USES, AND NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION. NOAAS INVESTMENT OF OVER $3 MILLION IS LEVERAGING OVER $ 2.6 MILLION IN STATE FUNDS. THESE FUNDS WILL SUPPORT JOBS AND PROVIDE CONTINUED ASSISTANCE TO THE MASSACHUSETTS COASTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TO ADDRESS MANY IMPORTANT COASTAL ISSUES IN THE STATE INCLUDING OCEAN RESOURCES AND USES, COASTAL SHORELINE AND FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT, COASTAL HABITATS, WATER QUALITY, AND WATERFRONT AND PORT PLANNING.THE AWARD ALSO CONTINUES TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STATES RESILIENTCOASTS INITIATIVE. RESILIENTCOASTS WILL GUIDE THE STATES STRATEGY FOR ADDRESSING COASTAL HAZARDS AND IMPACTS AT THE STATE, REGIONAL, AND LOCAL LEVELS AND FACILITATING REGIONAL COLLABORATION THROUGHOUT THE IDENTIFIED 15 COASTAL RESILIENCE DISTRICTS.