A competitive funding opportunity to develop and implement accelerator programs that support small businesses and entrepreneurs commercialize ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes-based climate solutions

 

Click here to view a recorded webinar which provides program-specific application guidance for this funding opportunity.

Background

The focus of this funding opportunity will be to partner with and fund eligible organizations to develop business accelerators that provide specific programming and opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs aligned with identified marine-based climate resilience theme areas. The program will foster public-private partnerships to develop and support sustainable business models around ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observation technologies, products, and services that address climate resilience needs. 

NOAA technical assistance will be available for organizations applying for and receiving funding. NOAA will actively partner with awardees through cooperative agreements, providing scientific and management expertise. 

Read frequently asked questions about the funding opportunity here.

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Basic Information for Applicants

The Climate Resilience Accelerator Program consists of two phases. Phase One awardees will be selected based on review of applications to the initial NOFO. All Phase One awardees will then be invited to apply for Phase Two funding through a subsequent solicitation to be released only for Phase One awardees. Accelerator program designs developed in Phase One will be the basis of Phase Two applications.

  • Phase One: Climate Resilience Accelerator Program Design (closed 9/11/23)                                                  
    (up to $250k over 9 months)
  • Phase Two: Implementation of Accelerator Programming
    (up to $10M over 4 years) 

Phase One: Submit an application to the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Climate Resilience Accelerator Program (now closed).

  • Eligible Applicants: US-based for-profit organizations (corporations, partnerships, joint ventures), academic institutions, cooperative institutes, nonprofit organizations, tribal governments or organizations.
  • Matching Funds: There is no matching requirement for this funding. 
  • Webinars and Q&A for Potential Applicants: Will be announced and shared shortly.

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Ocean-Based Climate Resilience Accelerator Proposed Theme Areas

Ocean Renewable Energy

Climate resilience will require the development of ocean observation technologies and information services to support siting, construction, and operation of ocean renewable energy resources. These technologies are also necessary to support forward-looking analyses, science, and research to ensure ocean renewable energy progresses in tandem with biodiversity protection, ocean co-use, and future changes due to climate change. This effort should not support the development of energy technologies themselves but rather the tools and information services that enable sustainable, safe, inclusive and informed ocean energy development.    

Coastal and Ocean Carbon Sequestration Monitoring and Accounting

There is growing interest in enhanced natural and engineered sequestration of carbon in the coasts and oceans. To support climate resilience as these initiatives move from pilot to large operational scale, there will be a need for ocean observation and information services that monitor their effectiveness and environmental impact and verify and monitor the quantities of carbon they remove. This effort should not support the development of carbon sequestration technologies themselves but rather the tools and information services that can measure the effectiveness and monitor the impacts of their deployment.

Hazard Mitigation and Coastal Resilience

To facilitate climate resilience, coastal communities require accurate wind and water level predictions to prepare for and mitigate beach erosion, coastal flooding, and prevent loss of human life. Accurate wind-wave forecasting in enclosed or semi-enclosed basins, nearshore coastal areas, islands, and estuaries require high resolution observations and modeling at a regional scale. These regional scale observations and model products are currently not available to vulnerable coastal communities nationwide; therefore, it is not possible to accurately predict the magnitude or extent of coastal flooding during episodic storms, King tides, and other wind and wave driven events.

Ecosystems Services, Including Change Detection, Change Analysis, and Change Adaptation/Mitigation

Many decision makers, including natural resource managers, offshore operators, permitting agencies, and others, require the best available science, data, and predictions to reduce uncertainty in decision making processes. Advances in ocean and coastal observation technology, modeling, and analytics are required to accurately assess and forecast ecosystem changes, such as shifts in species location, biological production, biogeochemical regulation, and physical phenomena like marine heat waves or changes in sea level. Improved predictive capabilities will provide natural resource managers and other decision makers with the ability to adapt climate resilience efforts at meaningful spatial and temporal scales.

Other ocean-based climate resilience theme areas as determined by the applicant.

Note that “ocean” is inclusive of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes areas.

Thank you for your interest.
For more information, or to ask questions, contact NOAA at cr.accelerators@noaa.gov.