Virginia announces $13M in flood preparedness funding from greenhouse gas initiative
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation announced recently that groups around the state will receive $13.6 million from the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund.
The money supports 27 projects, including planning, capacity building and mitigation in Hampton Roads and Virginia.
According to a news release, the grant requests totaled $93 million from 64 applications. The DCR is reviewing more proposals and is expected to award others.
“The impacts of flooding are felt across the commonwealth, and Gov. Youngkin has ensured that resiliency and flood mitigation efforts are a priority for this administration,” said Travis Voyles, Virginia’s acting secretary of natural and historic resources and chief resilience officer, in the release. “These projects will support important flood protection and resilience efforts in inland and coastal communities across Virginia.”
The funding is part of the third round of grants. The first was awarded last October and the second at the end of December.
“The planning work supported by these projects is an important early step for communities as they adapt to threats of climate change,” said Peggy Sanner, Virginia executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “This important work is only possible because of the funding from Virginia’s participation in RGGI.”
The Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund was established under the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative after the commonwealth passed the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act in 2020.
Everett Eaton, 262-902-7896, everett.eaton@virginiamedia.com
