WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) announced today that the U.S. Senate has passed the Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act, legislation he has cosponsored to boost efforts to revitalize waterfront communities and stimulate coastal economic development.

            “Waterfront communities across Maine are a critical pillar of our state’s economy that help generate millions of dollars every year,” Senator King said. “But these communities are also facing new challenges and changes – from confronting climate change to modernizing aging infrastructure – and this legislation can be helpful in bringing together government resources so that these communities will have improved access to the tools they need to grow, adapt, and sustain themselves for generations to come.”

The Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act will support community efforts to make the most of water resources by attracting water-dependent industries and investments that leverage water sustainably, revitalizing neighborhoods, and enhancing recreation and tourism. Additionally, Senator King’s legislation will support communities to plan for their future and help them attract private and non-profit investment. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) introduced the bill and it was also cosponsored by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Oreg.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.).

Many waterfront communities were built around their water resources years ago, and they are now working to reposition and overcome issues such as limited public access and poor alignment with modern development. In addition to adapting to economic shifts, waterfront communities are facing pressures to meet increasing demands on water resources; make resilient investments that can withstand weather extremes like storms, floods, and fluctuating water levels; and adapt to changing ecosystem conditions that range from shoreline erosion to stresses on fisheries.

Waterfront planning and implementation requires communities to navigate intergovernmental hurdles, work across constituent groups and agencies, and secure financing. But many communities lack the tools to make it from vision to reality – despite the economic returns from revitalization and the payoff that resiliency preparation can provide in the long term.

The Waterfront Community Revitalization and Resiliency Act aims to solve these problems by:

• Creating a voluntary Resilient Waterfront Community designation within the Department of Commerce. The designation recognizes communities that adopt a waterfront revitalization and resiliency plan integrating economic, ecosystem, and infrastructure challenges and opportunities.

• Establishing a Resilient Waterfront Communities network to support sharing of best practices, highlight Resilient Waterfront Communities, and help attract new investment.

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