North Raleigh Today

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Coastal Management is inviting communities and contractors to apply for participation in Phases 1 through 4 of the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP). The program aims to help local communities enhance their coastal resilience. An estimated $2 million will be available for Phases 1 and 2, and approximately $6 million for Phases 3 and 4 during the fiscal year 2025-2026. Applications are due by April 25, 2025, at 5 p.m.

An informational webinar about the application process is scheduled for March 21 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. County and municipal governments within the state's CAMA counties, as well as qualified contractors such as private planning firms, Councils of Government, NGOs, and academic institutions, are encouraged to apply.

Communities selected will work with contractors to update local CAMA Land Use Plans while integrating resilience strategies developed through the RCCP. This effort supports proactive decision-making aimed at reducing risk.

Phase objectives include providing funding for engineering design in Phase 3 and project implementation in Phase 4. Projects may involve wetland restoration, flood mitigation, shoreline stabilization, or infrastructure improvements for stormwater management.

The RCCP seeks to address barriers like limited capacity and economic constraints while assisting communities with risk assessments and project prioritization. It also aims to advance projects to a "shovel-ready" status and connect them with funding streams.

Questions about the program can be directed to RCCP@deq.nc.gov.