Applications to participate in phases 1 and 2 of the four-phase North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program grant cycle are due Feb. 3.
An informational webinar has been scheduled to help applicants with the process.
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The Division of Coastal Management, which oversees the program that aims to equip communities with additional capability to increase their resilience to coastal hazards, is to hold the webinar from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 12. Join the webinar online.
County and municipal governments within the 20 Coastal Area Management Act counties, federal and state-recognized tribes, and any qualified owners’ association defined by the state can apply for the program. Community application materials are on the website.
Qualified service providers also can apply to provide technical assistance to selected localities. Eligible providers include private planning and engineering firms, councils of government, nongovernmental organizations, and academic institutions, both private and public. Service provider applications are on the website as well.
With funding from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the North Carolina General Assembly, the division launched in November 2020 the Resilient Coastal Communities Program, which has four phases.
Phases 1 and 2 guide communities through a series of steps to assess risks and vulnerabilities specific to their location, engage representative stakeholders, and complete a community-involved process to prioritize projects and action items to improve the resiliency of their community and critical assets.
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Once communities complete Phases 1 and 2, they become eligible to apply for phase 3, which is engineering and design, and phase 4, or Implementation, funding from the division, and will be better positioned to take advantage of implementation funding from various funders in the future.
The program planning handbook provides guidance for participants to complete phases 1 and 2. Existing data, tools and resources are incorporated throughout the handbook to assist with the process and to identify specific program requirements.
The Resilient Coastal Communities Program is a state-local partnership designed to help overcome barriers in coastal resilience and adaptation planning, boost local government capacity, and support a proactive, sustainable, and equitable approach to coastal resilience planning and project implementation.
The division first announced this grant availability in December.
Questions and completed applications may be sent to RCCP@ncdenr.gov.
