NOAA Restoration Center - Oyster Reef Grants

Enriched Foundation · Found: 2026-03-11 08:19

NOAA direct funding and technical assistance for habitat restoration. Community-based Restoration Program, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding.

Source: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/restoration-center

Funding Details

Funder

NOAA Restoration Center (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

Funding Goal

Fund community-based habitat restoration projects, including oyster reef restoration, to rebuild productive and sustainable fisheries, contribute to the recovery and conservation of protected marine resources, and promote healthy coastal ecosystems across the United States.

Funding Amount

$75,000 to $3 million per project over 1-3 years. Total program funding was $4 million in 2020 cycle. Additional funding available through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. (75.000 € – 3.000.000 €)

How to Apply

Two-stage process: 1) Submit pre-proposal by deadline, 2) If invited, submit full proposal through Grants.gov using standard NOAA financial assistance application package (SF-424 form family). Applications reviewed April-May with awards finalized July-September (based on 2020 cycle). NOAA provides guidance on proposal development, monitoring requirements, environmental compliance, and grant management.

Target Region

United States (coastal areas in 15+ states, with major focus on Chesapeake Bay, Pacific Northwest/Puget Sound, and other U.S. coastal regions)

Contact

NOAA Fisheries - Restoration Center. Contact through NOAA Fisheries website contact directory.

Official Page

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/coastal-and-marine-habitat-restoration-grants

Last Checked

2026-03-11 19:22

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Applicant must be a U.S.-based eligible entity: non-profit, university, commercial organization, U.S. territory, or state/local/tribal government

Project Scope

• Projects must focus on habitat restoration that rebuilds fisheries, conserves protected resources, or promotes healthy ecosystems
• Projects should demonstrate community engagement and economic benefits

Required Documents

• Application must be submitted through Grants.gov using standard NOAA financial assistance package (SF-424 forms)
• Pre-proposal submission required before full proposal (two-stage application process)

Constraints

• Project budget must fall within $75,000 to $3 million range with 1-3 year duration

Summary

NOAA's Restoration Center operates the Community-based Restoration Program and Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Grants, providing direct funding and technical assistance for habitat restoration projects across the United States. The program has funded over 70 oyster restoration projects in 15 states and supports the world's largest oyster restoration effort in Chesapeake Bay, aiming to restore oysters in 10 tributaries. Nearly 17,000 volunteers have participated in NOAA-led restoration activities. The grant program offers competitive awards ranging from $75,000 to $3 million over one to three years, with eligible applicants including non-profit organizations, institutions of higher education, commercial organizations, U.S. territories, and state, local, and Native American tribal governments. Projects must rebuild productive fisheries, contribute to species recovery, and generate community and economic benefits using habitat-based approaches. Applications are submitted through Grants.gov. The program has been supplemented by significant additional funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which provide priority restoration investments for shellfish population rebuilding, river reopening, wetland reconnection, and shallow coral restoration. Note that the original program page (restoration-center) now returns a 404 error, suggesting the website has been restructured, though the underlying programs appear to continue through NOAA's broader habitat conservation grant portfolio.

Historical Context

NOAA's Restoration Center has funded over 70 oyster restoration projects in 15 states. The Chesapeake Bay program is the world's largest oyster restoration effort, targeting 10 tributaries by end of 2025. Nearly 17,000 volunteers have participated. The program has been augmented by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act funding. The most recent documented grant cycle was in 2020 with $4 million in funding. The original restoration-center URL now returns 404, suggesting website restructuring.

Sources

• https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/restoration-center
• https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/community-based-restoration-program
• https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/habitat-conservation
• https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/coastal-and-marine-habitat-restoration-grants
• https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/habitat-conservation/oyster-reef-habitat
• https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/funding-opportunities/open-opportunities

Similar Programs

← Back to list