Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund Grants

Overview

In 2021, the Rhode Island General Assembly adopted legislation establishing the Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience (OSCAR) Fund as a program to be administered jointly by the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (RIIB), the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC). Rules governing the new program were adopted in 2023. The program provides financial assistance in the form of grants for adaptation and resilience projects that protect or enhance coastal or riverine habitats to address the impacts of climate change. The program is limited to projects on public lands, including lands that provide public access to shorelines and riverbanks. Rules detailing the policies and procedures of the OSCAR fund are found at https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/830-10-35-1.

Funding Opportunity

Announcement of Request for Proposals (RFP)

DEM and CRMC are jointly soliciting project proposals for the OSCAR Program. Eligible adaptation and resilience projects include those projects on public lands that protect or enhance coastal or riverine habitats to address climate change impacts. The program also includes certain projects that protect public access to shorelines or riverbanks and repair of existing shoreline protection structures in public parks. The OSCAR Program has about $4 million in state funding available that will be awarded on a competitive basis. In response to stakeholder feedback and to allow applicants additional time to create their proposals, the deadline for submittal of proposals has been extended to June 21, 2024, at 5:00 pm. Instructions are detailed in the full RFP document below.