SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — More than 30 coastal communities have received grant funding from a state agency to help with projects that create resiliency against risky weather events and storms. Almost $800,000 will be put to use in the tri-county region.
“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,” North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Reid Wilson said in a release. “These grants provide resources so community leaders can identify the most important actions they can take to safeguard their residents, their infrastructure, and their economies.”
DEQ’s Division of Coastal Management issued more than $6 million in total from its Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP). The grants are broken down into phase 1 and 2 awardees, which means providing technical assistance in risk assessment and resilience planning. This becomes incorporated into Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Land Use Plans, to focus on highly vulnerable areas and help guide future investment.
Around $1.9 million were given in grants in these phases. In the tri-county region, funding went to:
- Carolina Beach: $70,000
- City of Wilmington: $85,000
- Holden Beach: $70,000
- New Hanover County: $70,000
- Oak Island: $70,000
- Pender County: $85,000
- Shallotte: $70,000
- Southport: $70,000
Port City Daily reached out to some of the communities to learn more about what projects they have in mind when it comes to utilizing the funds. Though most didn’t respond by press, New Hanover County indicated it is still sorting through details to present to commissioners.
Another portion of the RCCP covers phases 3 and 4 of projects — the former of which includes engineering and design and the latter covers construction and implementation for nature-based solutions that help with stormwater and flood mitigation. $4.2 million was given out for these grants.
One issued for $181,687 was provided to the Town of Burgaw in Pender County to build a Street Rain Garden. It will slow stormwater flow from rooftops and driveways, so the water can infiltrate the ground.
The work is being constructed by Kleinfelder, Inc. — one of 13 contractors North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management utilizes for resiliency projects.
According to DEQ’s release, the latest funding round brings the grant program to $16-million awarded through 108 grants in 56 coast communities to date.
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