96275425

**Description:** This agreement provides funding under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to Rockaway Waterfront Alliance (RWA), dba RISE.

Specifically, by harnessing nature-based solutions and cultivating strong community partnerships, RISE will use this funding to enhance climate resilience, improve air quality, reduce local pollution to improve public health, build community strength, and train a climate resilient workforce to address the environmental, socioeconomic, and public health challenges currently faced by the residents of Arverne and Far Rockaway, Queens, NY.

The project will develop a project partnership with NYC Parks that will support RISE's ability to manage a robust multi-year project and share resources.

NYC Parks brings knowledge, expertise, and experience about dune restoration and will build capacity at its Greenbelt Native Plant Center (GNPC) to grow native plants for dune restoration in Arverne and Far Rockaway, Queens.

The project will engage the local disadvantaged urban community of color in meaningful ways, from design to implementation to sustainability, giving voice to majority BIPOC, low-income, underrepresented, and underserved individuals.

The project will (1) restore, protect, preserve, and maintain a 3-mile stretch of neglected dune habitat, living landscape, and new green infrastructure referred to as the Rockaway Dune Preserve site, along the narrow stretch of land northward of the Rockaway Boardwalk, from Beach 17th to Beach 76th Street;

(2) establish a new local native plant nursery in Arverne to grow local ecotype native plant species appropriate for this dune restoration project site and serve as an educational and workforce development training site;

(3) increase the capacity for GNPC to produce native plant material appropriate for dune habitat restoration and coastal seed-based restoration and developing protocols and training programs;

(4) clean beaches in the project area and engage the community in a clean beach campaign that will help reduce trash, marine debris, and pollution build-up in the project area;

(5) develop new high-quality jobs and increase the capacity of RISE's job training programs that will benefit the community, especially low-income adults and teens of color.

**Activities:** The project activities include (1) planting native dune plants across a 3-mile stretch of dune landscape in Arverne and Far Rockaway;

(2) collecting and storing local native seeds to be stored in the Greenbelt Native Plant Center/NYC Parks Department, Staten Island, NY, seedbank to ensure availability of plant material for future coastal restoration efforts;

(3) establishing a new native plant nursery in Arverne, Queens, NY;

(4) supporting existing plant nursery and seed bank at the Greenbelt Native Plant Center/NYC Parks Department to maintain necessary stock of native plants appropriate for coastal habitat restoration;

(5) placement of several species of pollinator-friendly plants throughout 3-mile stretch of neglected habitat in Arverne and Far Rockaway, Queens, NY;

(6) removing invasive species in project area;

(7) writing and publishing a manual on native seed farming and small-scale native planting;

(8) training, mentoring, and coaching 60 adults in disadvantaged communities of color who are currently unemployed, underemployed, or face employment barriers to secure future jobs and careers to reduce GHG emissions and air pollutants;

(9) training, mentoring, and college and career coaching 75 high school students in disadvantaged communities to prepare them for high-quality jobs to reduce GHG emissions and air pollutants;

(10) removing 4+ tons of waste and marine debris from 3-mile stretch of neglected beach and dunes;

(11) placing 80 trash receptacles on beaches/boardwalks in project area;

(12) placing permanent signage in project area to remind visitors not to litter and to dispose of solid waste properly;

(13) posting interpretive educational signs to educate and inspire the public.

Rockaway Waterfront Alliance

2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.1 - CLEAN UP AND RESTORE LAND FOR PRODUCTIVE USES AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS 4 - ENSURE CLEAN AND HEALTHY AIR FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 4.1 - IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND REDUCE LOCALIZED POLLUTION AND HEALTH IMPACTS 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 5.2 - PROTECT AND RESTORE WATERBODIES AND WATERSHEDS 6 - SAFEGUARD AND REVITALIZE COMMUNITIES 6.2 - REDUCE WASTE AND PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.2 - EMBED ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS INTO EPA’S PROGRAMS, POLICIES, AND ACTIVITIES 5 - ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES 5.1 - ENSURE SAFE DRINKING WATER AND RELIABLE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 2 - TAKE DECISIVE ACTION TO ADVANCE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS 2.1 - PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS AT THE FEDERAL, TRIBAL, STATE, AND LOCAL LEVELS S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND SCIENCE-BASED DECISION MAKING S - CROSS AGENCY STRATEGY S.1 - ENSURE SCIENTIFIC INT

66.616 - Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant Program

EPA Region 2: New York City [EPA - RO]

Arverne, New York 11692-0645 United States

Single Zip Code

Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change Grants Program (EPA-R-OEJECR-OCS-23-04)

Termination This project grant was reported on the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) partial or complete termation list as of its last report October 2025. See All
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been shortened from 01/31/28 to 05/02/25.