OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Waves crash along the Lake Erie shore in Dunkirk on Tuesday.

Dunkirk is one of seven U.S. Great Lakes cities to get a share of nearly $3 million from the National Coastal Resilience Fund for shoreline projects.

The $2.98 million will be used to complete design and planning for projects that address coastal and neighborhood flooding; erosion of dunes, beached and bluffs; degraded habitat; and compromised infrastructure and public safety.

The cities, including Dunkirk, are all members of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. The other cities getting money in this award are Toledo, Ohio; Sheboygan, Wis.; Waukegan, Ill.; Romulus, Mich.; Euclid, Ohio; and Grand Marais, Minn.

The initiative has supported more than 80 coastal resiliency projects in the Great Lakes. It has helped cities secure funding to tackle various issues such as habitat loss, erosion and compromised infrastructure.

“This funding is a testament to the importance of collaboration among cities to improve the resilience of our Great Lakes coasts,” said Ryan Sorenson, Cities Initiative Co-Chair and Mayor of Sheboygan. “These projects represent hope and opportunity for our communities, ensuring they are better prepared for the future while enhancing access to waterfronts and improving the health of our natural resources.”

This milestone accomplishment reflects the Cities Initiative’s commitment to advancing climate resilience through bipartisan and regional collaboration. Each project addresses a critical need identified by local communities, emphasizing solutions such as restoring natural floodplains, coastal wetlands, and in-water habitats. The projects aim to reduce future risks and costs, improve public safety, and catalyze local economic development.

“This initiative emphasizes the collective effort needed to protect our communities,” added Bill Bazzi, Cities Initiative Board Member and Mayor of Dearborn Heights, Mich. “Together, we are securing the future of our lake- and river-front communities while fostering economic growth and environmental stewardship.”

The Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative has worked previously with the city regarding challenges along the shoreline that are related to high wave and wind activity, specifically along Lake Front Boulevard and Wright Park Beach.