The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has received a $470,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce to develop a waterfront oceanographic research infrastructure resiliency plan that will help keep the world-renowned research, exploration and education institution operational in the event of future storms.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo announced the news in Woods Hole on June 4.
“President Biden is committed to helping communities impacted by natural disasters advance their plans to protect and grow their vital industry sectors,” said Raimondo. “The department’s Economic Development Administration investment will allow the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to develop a plan to guard critical docking infrastructure that supports 1,000 jobs and that is relied upon by marine science and other businesses needing access to the ocean.”
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution was impacted by a strong nor’easter in 2018. Among the infrastructure impacted was the institution’s Iselin Dock. Iselin Dock generates at least $50 million in economic activity and allows businesses, researchers, local and state officials involved in public safety, and many others who play a key role in the region and state’s economy to access the ocean.
This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by Barnstable County acting through the Cape Cod Commission, which EDA funds.
This project is funded by the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019 (Pub. L. 116-20), which provided EDA with $600 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas affected by Hurricanes Florence, Michael, and Lane, Typhoons Yutu and Mangkhut, wildfires, volcanic eruptions and other major natural disasters occurring in calendar year 2018, and tornadoes and floods occurring in calendar year 2019, under the Robert T. Stafford Act.
