Northam announces $ 7.8 million in flood planning grants

Accomack and Northampton included

RICHMOND—Governor Ralph Northam announced grants of $ 7.8 million to support 19 local projects that address the impacts of flooding, sea level rise and extreme weather conditions across the state.

Grants are the first to be awarded through the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund. The governor and the General Assembly established the fund in 2020 to help communities build resilience to the impacts of climate change, including flooding, with targeted funding for vulnerable and underserved communities.

The fund is financed by the sale of carbon emission allowances as part of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Virginia joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in January 2021.

“The Virgins have suffered the devastating effects of the floods time and time again,” Governor Northam said. “Without strong investments in resilience, we will continue to see the same thing. Grants from the Community Flood Preparedness Fund are so important because they will help launch projects in more than a dozen localities, including some that have been affected by recent disasters.

The Community Flood Preparedness Fund receives 45 percent of the revenue generated by Virginia through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. It is estimated that $ 75 million per year will be available under the matching grant program.

At least 25 percent of the money distributed by the fund each year must be used for projects in low-income geographic areas. For this round of grants, 48 ​​percent, or $ 3.7 million, of the total grants were allocated to projects in these areas.

Eligible project areas include planning and capacity building activities, flood prevention and protection studies, and field improvements that build resilience to floods. The program prioritizes projects that use nature-based solutions.

Northampton will receive a $ 202,232 grant for capacity planning and resilience of an oyster scheme. The Accomack-Northampton Planning District Commission received $ 47,121 for a study on the impacts of climate change on crop planning and production.