Gov. Ned Lamont on Wednesday announced $8.8 million in state funding for climate resilience projects in 17 municipalities and councils of governments, including more than $1.3 million for projects in Groton and Norwich.

“In this first round of funding, more than 90% of the funds will go to vulnerable communities that will feel the effects of climate change first and worst, including 10 municipalities that are designated by state statute as ‘environmental justice communities,’ ” the news release states.

Groton is slated to received $200,000 towars the development of a town-wide climate resilience plan. Norwich Public Utilities will receive $650,000 to design a wall to protect the Bean Hill Substation from river flooding. The substation serves Backus Hospital, the industrial park, and 6,000 residential customers in Norwich.

Chris Riley, communications and community outreach manager for NPU said that after several floods, NPU has been working to harden its electrical infrastructure against the impacts of climate change. The substation is located within the 100-year flood plain.

NPU also will receive $485,000 for site and engineering studies, along with necessary federal grant application studies, related to relocating the Shipping Street sewage pump station out of the flood zone of the Thames River, according to the release.