The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management has announced the allocation of nearly $6 million in grants to 32 communities. These funds, provided through the Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP), aim to enhance resilience against hazardous weather events. The initiative includes $1.9 million for technical assistance in risk assessment and resilience planning under RCCP Phases 1 and 2, and over $4 million for engineering, design, construction, and implementation under Phases 3 and 4.
DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson highlighted the importance of these measures by stating, “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.”
Communities such as Beaufort County, Hyde County, Pamlico County, Carolina Beach, Jacksonville, Pasquotank County, City of Wilmington, Manteo, Pender County, Colerain, Murfreesboro, Shallotte, Dare County, New Hanover County, Southern Shores, Holden Beach, Newport, Southport, Elizabeth City, Oak Island and Tyrell County are among those selected for initial phases focusing on community engagement and risk assessment.
For Phases 1 and 2 projects will involve collaboration with third-party firms providing technical assistance services. Contractors involved include Atkins Realis; Moffatt & Nichol; Coastal Protection Engineering (CPE); NC State University Coastal Dynamics Design Lab (CDDL); Colliers Engineering & Design; RK&K and the Mid East Commission; ESP Associates; SWCA Environmental Consultants; HDR; Weston and Sampson (WSE); Kimley Horn; WSP; Kleinfelder.
Phase 3 will provide nearly $3 million for engineering and design efforts in five counties and eight municipalities. Projects will incorporate natural elements like wetland restoration. Specific projects include floodplain improvements in Aulander and college park renewal in Elizabeth City.
In Phase 4 three municipalities will receive over $1.2 million for construction projects featuring nature-based solutions like rain gardens in Burgaw.
Since its inception the RCCP has awarded approximately $16 million across 108 grants benefiting 56 coastal communities. This funding aims to assist local governments in overcoming barriers to coastal resilience through sustainable planning strategies.
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