Coastal Resilience Program RFP Grant

The National Sea Grant Law Center is inviting proposals for the Coastal Resilience Program to research laws and policies addressing coastal resilience challenges such as sea level rise and flooding. With a funding cap of $150,000 over two years, this initiative aims to assess the effectiveness of existing policies and promote informed decision-making in coastal management. Up to two projects will be selected for funding, supporting innovative solutions to enhance community resilience against environmental threats.

The National Sea Grant Law Center’s mission is to encourage a well-informed constituency by providing legal information and analysis to the Sea Grant Community, policy-makers, and the general public through a variety of products and services.
Sea Grant is a partnership between the nation’s universities and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that began in 1966, when the U.S. By funding universities in coastal and Great Lakes states through “sea grants,” Congress created the National Sea Grant College Program which now works with 30 state programs to encourage the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, education, outreach and technology transfer.
The National Sea Grant Law Center was established in 2002 to “coordinate and enhance Sea Grant's activities in legal scholarship and outreach related to coastal and ocean law issues.” For over a decade, the NSGLC at the University of Mississippi School of Law has fulfilled its five major responsibilities, as identified by the National Sea Grant Office: (1) integrating the efforts of ocean and coastal law researchers and users in the Sea Grant network nationwide; (2) conducting research on current ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes law issues; (3) providing outreach and advisory services to the Sea Grant network and coastal constituents; (4) disseminating information and analysis through periodic workshops and conferences as well as publications, and (5) serving as a focal point for Sea Grant’s law-related issues and promoting the growth and development of a Sea Grant legal network.
Coastal Resilience Funding
The National Sea Grant Law Center (Law Center) is accepting applications from eligible applicants to conduct research on the effectiveness of laws and policies related to a wide range of coastal resilience issues including sea level rise, flooding, amplified storm surge, increased frequency and intensity of storms, land use, or other environmental factors, and whether those policies are achieving desired policy changes. The 2025 Coastal Resilience Program grants have a recommended two-year project period and funding level of $150,000, and the Law Center anticipates selecting up to two projects for funding.