State awards nearly $6 million in coastal resiliency grants to 32 communities for planning, engineering, design, and construction

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM) has awarded Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) grants to 32 communities to strengthen their resilience to increasingly hazardous weather events. A total of $1.9 million was provided for completion of RCCP Phases 1 and 2 for technical assistance in risk assessment and resilience planning, and to incorporate resiliency into Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Land Use Plans. Additionally, grants totaling more than $4 million were awarded to communities for Phases 3 and 4 of the RCCP to assist with engineering, design, construction and implementation.

“Increasingly catastrophic storms like Helene and Chantal underscore how important it is for communities to take concrete steps to strengthen their resilience to hazardous weather events,” said DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson. “These grants provide technical assistance and resources so that community leaders can identify the most important actions they can take to safeguard their residents, their infrastructure, and their economies.”

Phases 1 & 2: Community Engagement, Risk & Vulnerability Assessment/ Planning, Project Selection and Prioritization

Communities selected for Phases 1 and 2:

*CAMA Land Use Plan                                   **Phases 1 & 2 and CAMA Land Use Plan

In Phases 1 and 2, DCM will contract with third-party firms, who receive the above funding directly, to provide technical assistance services to the localities. Working with the local governments, the contractors selected by DCM will support the development of the communities’ resilience strategies and CAMA Land Use Plans.

The contractors include:

The CAMA Land Use Plans will include resilience policies and projects focusing on high-vulnerability areas. Communities will use the plans to guide development and drive future public investments.

Given that many existing land use plans are outdated and typically only designed to be relevant for up to 20 years, the RCCP aligns with the growing demand in North Carolina for updated land use plans to better anticipate future development and weather hazards.

Phase 3: Engineering and Design

Five counties and eight municipalities will receive engineering and design funds totaling nearly $3 million for the completion of Phase 3 of the RCCP. All of these projects incorporate natural and nature-based elements, such as wetland restoration and living shoreline design.

Phase 4: Construction and Implementation

Three municipalities will receive a total of more than $1.2 million to complete projects in Phase 4. These projects feature a range of nature-based solutions and community-focused strategies for stormwater management and flood mitigation. Specific projects include the construction of rain gardens and living shorelines to reduce flooding and erosion impacts.  

The RCCP supports communities in developing and implementing locally driven resilience strategies, including projects or activities that reduce the impacts of hazards like flooding and storms. The initiative helps local governments overcome barriers to coastal resilience and adaptation planning, boost local government capacity, and support a proactive, sustainable and fair approach to planning and project implementation.

With the latest round of funding, the RCCP has awarded approximately $16 million through 108 grants to 56 coastal communities to help increase their resilience to weather hazards. To learn more about awarded projects, visit the RCCP Experience Builder.

Community applications and contractor applications were evaluated and scored across a range of criteria.

The RCCP receives funding through a combination of state and federal sources. For more information about the Resilient Coastal Communities program: go to the DCM website.