Environment sustainability

Blue Economy Initiative Launches Funding for Coastal Restoration Projects

Blue Economy Initiative Launches $50 Million Fund to Accelerate Coastal Restoration Across U.S.

The Blue Economy Initiative (BEI) today opened applications for its new Coastal Restoration Capital Program, a five-year, $50 million fund dedicated to rebuilding marshes, oyster reefs and dunes from the Gulf of Maine to Puget Sound. The announcement, made at the annual Sustainable Ocean Summit, positions BEI as the largest private funder of on-the-ground coastal habitat work in the United States.

“Every dollar we deploy is measured by acres restored, tons of carbon captured and miles of shoreline protected,” said Dr. Elena Ramirez, BEI’s chief executive officer. “This program moves blue-carbon projects from pilot to scale, while putting maritime construction crews, scientists and local suppliers to work.”

Recent federal assessments show the U.S. loses roughly 40,000 acres of coastal wetlands annually, heightening flood risk for 41 million residents who live in coastal counties. A 2025 NOAA study warns that without rapid intervention, cumulative storm-damage costs to shoreline infrastructure could exceed $783 billion by 2050—a 42 % increase over current baseline estimates.

Grant awards will range from $750,000 to $3 million and prioritize projects that integrate nature-based solutions—such as living shorelines and marsh terraces—with workforce-training partnerships for underserved communities. At least 30 % of the fund is earmarked for tribes and territories, reflecting BEI’s commitment to climate justice and Indigenous ecological knowledge.

Market analysis commissioned by BEI shows that every $1 million invested in coastal restoration generates $2.4 million in direct economic output, supporting 24 full-time jobs across engineering, conservation and marine trades. The sector is also attracting private capital: blue-bond issuances hit a record $4.6 billion globally in 2025, up 68 % year-on-year, according to data compiled by the Sustainable Blue Economy Finance Initiative.

Applications opened today on grants.gov; concept papers are due January 15, 2026, with awards announced next May. Awardees will gain access to BEI’s technical advisory pool—70 specialized scientists—as well as low-interest bridge loans for projects that meet carbon-credit certification criteria.

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“Restoration is no longer a niche conservation strategy—it is critical infrastructure investment,” said Dr. Ramirez. “Our goal is to de-risk early-stage projects so they can tap growing pools of private and blended finance, accelerating the transition to a climate-resilient blue economy.”

About the Blue Economy Initiative

Launched in 2021, BEI is a Boston-based nonprofit that channels private capital into scalable ocean-climate solutions. The Initiative has deployed $110 million across 42 projects, restoring 18,000 acres of habitat and avoiding an estimated 3.2 million metric tons of CO₂-equivalent emissions. BEI partners include the World Bank’s PROBLUE program, major U.S. insurers and coastal Fortune 500 firms.