Coastal Economic Stimulus

As Congress considers an infrastructure stimulus bill in response to the coronavirus pandemic, ASBPA is asking Congress to prioritize funding for coastal infrastructure whose purpose is to help tourism and increase the resilience of communities to future economic challenges from the inevitable challenges posed by sea level rise and coastal storms.

See our Coronavirus Stimulus Letter to Congress (PDF 273kb)

This letter was developed with input from coastal colleagues, an ASBPA government affairs working group, and input from ASBPA members to a survey.

The Value of Beaches and Coasts

Long Beach Island, NJ: A restored beach drives tourism and community resilience.

America’s beaches and coasts are the nation’s leading tourism driver. More than twice as many people visit America’s coasts as visit state and national parks combined; consequently 85%[1] of all tourism-related revenue in the U.S. is generated in coastal states — where beaches are the leading tourist attraction. Beach tourism supports 2.5 million jobs, $285 billion in direct spending, and generates $45 billion in taxes annually.[2]

With coronavirus shutting beaches and restricting travel, the coastal tourism and service economy is disintegrating. On top of the immediate economic impacts of coronavirus, coastal communities are facing long term economic challenges from coastal erosion, rising seas and intensifying coastal storms.

What Beaches and Coasts need for an Economic Stimulus

We’re asking the federal government to put people to work restoring and rebuilding beaches and coastlines: the natural infrastructure that drives U.S. tourism AND keeps communities safe from storms and sea level rise.

Our letter to Congress explains our support for the following programs:

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) –

1. Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects with added resilience features.  ($200 million or full construction backlog)
2. Beneficial Use of Dredge Material pilot projects. ($100 Million, and authorization of at least 30 projects)
3. Coastal Aquatic Ecosystem restoration ($500 million – $1 billion)
4. Continuing Authorities Programs (Full funding for FY21 and FY22: CAP 204, 103, and 106)

NOAA

1. National Coastal Resilience Grants ($100 million)
2. Community-based Marine Debris Removal Grants ($5 million)

FEMA

1. Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) ($500 million)

EPA

1. BEACH Act grants ($40 Million)
2. Trash Free Waters ($5 million)
3. National Estuary Programs and Geographic restoration priorities. (varies)

See our full Coronavirus Stimulus Letter to Congress (PDF 273kb)

[1] Houston, J., 2013.“The economic value of beaches — a 2013 update.” Shore & Beach, 81(1), 3-11.

[2] Houston, J., 2018.“The economic value of beaches — a 2018 update.” Shore & Beach, 86(2), 3-13.