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$1M in grants to go to five coastal towns for resilience

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Washington is using its funding to improve the Jack’s Creek floodplain and greenway, shown here. Photo: Betsy Kane/City of Washington
Washington is using its funding to improve the Jack’s Creek floodplain and greenway, shown here. Photo: Betsy Kane/City of Washington

Five coastal communities are in line to receive a total of $1.1 million in grants to carry out resilience projects.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management announced the grants Tuesday. The funds are awarded through the four-phase Resilient Coastal Communities Program. The communities are in the final phase, which is to implement a project identified and planned during the previous three phases.

Belhaven will be awarded $263,200 for its project for tidal gates and flood attenuation at Wynne’s Gut on Pantego Creek.

New Bern will receive $175,320 for Duffyfield resilience improvement and Rose Street basin restoration and enhancement.

Pine Knoll Shores will be awarded $215,000 for tree street swales.

Vandemere will receive $250,000 for draining improvements.

Washington will receive $263,200 for Jack’s Creek floodplain and greenway improvements.

“Thanks to the proactive work of these communities in earlier phases of the Resilient Coastal Communities Program, they are ready to take advantage of grant funding to implement shovel-ready resilience projects that will protect their residents from coastal hazards,” Secretary Elizabeth S. Biser said in a statement.

The program supports communities in developing and implementing locally driven resilience strategies, and implementing projects or activities which reduce the impacts of coastal hazards like flooding and storms, and receives funding from a combination of state and federal sources.

About Staff Report

The story was compiled by staff members of Coastal Review.

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