Pinellas County to receive $2.2M NOAA grant to remove old tires from Tampa Bay

WASHINGTON – On April 21, Rep. Kathy Castor and Biden-Harris NOAA leaders announced $78.7 million for projects across Florida to make communities and the economy more resilient to climate change, an important part of the “Investing in America” agenda. The Tampa Bay area is slated to receive two coastal resilience grants. Across Florida, 16 projects will create jobs and boost economic and environmental outcomes for coastal communities. The awards are made under the Biden Administration’s Climate-Ready Coasts initiative funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) with additional funds leveraged from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) which were championed by Congresswoman Castor.

Administered by the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Climate-Ready Coasts initiative is focused on investing in high-impact projects that create climate solutions by storing carbon; build resilience to coastal hazards such as extreme weather events, pollution and marine debris; restore coastal habitats that help wildlife and humans thrive; build the capacity of underserved communities and support community-driven restoration; and provide employment opportunities.

Included in the funding is $2,250,000 for removal of more than 200,000 tires from Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico that were placed in the 1960s-1980s as artificial reefs. Project Partners are Keep Pinellas Beautiful and Tampa Bay Estuary Program.