On January 14, 2025, NOAA issued a press release announcing that they were now accepting applications for $17.6 million in funding through four established Regional Ocean Partnerships and five Integrated Ocean Observing System Regional Associations as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This funding reinforces NOAA’s efforts to advance regional ocean and coastal priorities, including addressing the climate crisis, and fostering engagement with underserved communities.
“These new funding opportunities, made possible thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, will expand NOAA’s work to tackle climate change along our nation’s coasts and oceans by improving ocean data research and ensuring that coastal communities are better equipped with the resources they need to mitigate sea level rise and coastal flooding,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
The majority of the funds — approximately $14 million — will be awarded non-competitively to the four established regional ocean partnerships:
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance
The Northeast Regional Ocean Council
The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council
The West Coast Ocean Alliance
The remaining $3.6 million will be distributed equally across all nine U.S. coastal regions, including five IOOS Regional Associations:
Great Lakes Observing System
Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System
Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association
Pacific Islands Ocean Observing System
Alaska Ocean Observing System
One of the four Regional Ocean Partnerships that the funding will go through is the Gulf Of Mexico Alliance.
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is the regional ocean partnership for the Gulf of Mexico. Their mission is to focus on enhancing the environmental and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico through increased collaboration.
The five Gulf states that make up the Alliance are Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. They lead the network that includes over 150 participating organizations from state and Federal agencies, Tribal governments, communities, academia, non-governmental organizations, and industry. Their actions support commitments to strengthening community resilience, increasing regional data sharing, and improving management of coastal habitats and wildlife species.
Photo courtesy of NOAA