Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund (OSCAR)

Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience Fund Grants

In 2021, the Rhode Island General Assembly adopted legislation establishing the Ocean State Climate Adaptation and Resilience (OSCAR) Fund as a program to be administered jointly by the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank (RIIB), the RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), and the RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM). 

The program provides financial assistance via grants for adaptation and resilience projects that protect or enhance coastal or riverine habitats to address climate change impacts. The program is limited to projects on public lands, including lands that provide public access to shorelines and riverbanks. Rules detailing the policies and procedures of the OSCAR fund, which were adopted in 2023, can be found at https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/830-10-35-1.

Funding Opportunity

Announcement of Request for Proposals (RFP)

CRMC and DEM are jointly soliciting project proposals for the OSCAR Program. Eligible projects include those on public lands that protect or enhance coastal or riverine habitats to address climate change impacts, as well as certain projects that protect shoreline or riverbank public access. There is approximately $1 million in state funding available from the OSCAR program, and awards will be granted competitively.

Instructions are detailed in the full RFP document below

• Full OSCAR RFP (PDF)
• Oscar RFP Project Narrative Guidance (PDF)
• Oscar RFP Application Form – (MS Word)
• Oscar Grant Program Budget Table (PDF)

Applications are due Friday, December 11th, 2026 at 4 PM and should be submitted via email to kimberly.korioth@dem.ri.gov.

Questions?  Need further information?  

Please contact Bruce Lofgren, Coastal Policy Analyst at blofgren@crmc.ri.gov or 401-782-3370.