Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund

The Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund (ECRF) is a partnership between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with additional support from the Bezos Earth Fund that supports projects that build resilience for coastal communities impacted by natural disasters. The first round of funding was directed toward communities that received a federal disaster declaration in 2018 as a result of the impacts of hurricanes Michael and Florence, Typhoon Yutu, and catastrophic wildfires. The second round of funding was directed toward communities that received a federal Major Disaster Declaration with a Public Assistance designation in 2020 or 2021 as a result of hurricanes or wildfires. As coastal communities work to rebuild following the devastation caused by these disaster events, the fund provides needed funding for projects that protect community assets and restore critical habitats for fish and wildlife.

To date the Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund has awarded over $73.6 million to 43 coastal resilience projects that will benefit communities impacted by natural disaster events.

Goals

The ECRF seeks to fund shovel-ready projects to improve wildlife habitat that also improves community resilience and recovery both in and around impacted areas. Program goals include:

• Help recover from 2020 and 2021 disasters, as well as reduce the impact of future disasters and associated natural hazards to coastal communities; and 
• Improve the ecological integrity and functionality of coastal ecosystems to enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats.

Geographic Focus 

Eligible projects must be located within the National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF) Coastal Areas and be within counties that received a federal Major Disaster Declaration with a Public Assistance designation as a result of hurricanes or wildfires in 2020 and 2021.