Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: August 05, 2021
Contact: Julie Buchanan, Senior Public Relations and Marketing Specialist, 804-786-2292, julie.buchanan@dcr.virginia.gov
Virginia announces second round of flood preparedness grant opportunities
$17 million is available in this cycle to help communities statewide address recurrent flooding, sea level rise and extreme weather.
RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation today announced the opening of a second grant round for the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund.
Communities across Virginia have until Nov. 5 to apply for $17 million in grants to address the effects of recurrent flooding, sea level rise and extreme weather.
Flooding is the most common and costly natural hazard in Virginia and the United States. The Community Flood Preparedness Fund will provide an estimated $75 million per year to improve local flood resilience, including targeted funding for the most vulnerable and underserved communities.
The General Assembly voted to establish the fund during the 2020 session. It is financed by the sale of carbon emission allowances under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, which Virginia joined in January 2021.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, in cooperation with the Virginia Resources Authority, administers the fund and grant program. DCR oversees the state’s floodplain management program.
The agency will host a virtual question-and-answer session about the grant program Aug. 13 at 1 p.m. The session is open to all, but registration is required.
A grant manual with eligibility rules and application procedures — and a registration link for the Aug. 13 session — are available at www.dcr.virginia.gov/cfpf.
The first Community Flood Preparedness Fund grant cycle opened June 4 and closes Sept. 3.