DEM Announces Availability of Funding for Projects to help RI Communities Confront the Effects of Climate Change

Published on Thursday, June 13, 2024

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced the release of the Climate Resilience Fund (CRF) Request for Proposals (RFP). Climate Resilience Funds will be made available to governmental entities and non-profit organizations to address climate change driven challenges, including flooding, erosion, and increasing temperatures. The grants are being made available through remaining funds from the 2018 Green Economy and Clean Water Bond. Governor Dan McKee’s proposed 2024 Green Bond includes an additional $2 million in funding for CRF grants, further supporting climate resilience projects statewide. For more information and to apply, please visit www.dem.ri.gov/crf.

“Through our work to support climate change resiliency projects in local communities, Rhode Island continues to be a leader in climate change action,” said Governor Dan McKee. “Together we are taking collective action to protect both our communities and environment from the negative impacts of climate change so that we have a resilient Ocean State for future generations.”

“Rhode Island’s communities face significant and diverse risks from climate change,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “Rising seas, increased damage from storm events, flooding, and erosion all have obvious and measurable impacts in our neighborhoods, especially for our most vulnerable residents. These grants made possible by the voter-approved Green Bond supports projects for a wide group of municipalities and organizations across the Ocean State that will strengthen the resilience of our communities.”

“Our state is facing numerous impacts from climate change, including flooding and coastal erosion – challenges which put our communities, infrastructure, and natural systems at risk,” said RI Chief Resilience Officer Kimberly Korioth. “Rhode Island remains committed to minimizing climate change impacts, and we are proud to be working with municipalities and organizations statewide to advance climate resilience project implementation. Grants such as these are critical to improving our state’s resilience, and this funding will help our communities and environment adapt to the effects of climate change.”

Climate change is causing extreme weather, inland and coastal flooding, and sea level rise – resulting in environmental and economic challenges for Rhode Islanders and around the world. Scientific modeling predicts that these impacts will accelerate. Each of Rhode Island's 39 cities and towns is vulnerable to climate change impacts, with infrastructure and natural systems at risk due to their location in riverine or coastal floodplains.

CRF grants will support eligible projects across two core categories:

Relocation, Removal, and Redesign of Vulnerable Infrastructure or Facilities, and
Nature-Based Solutions and Green Infrastructure.

This year, climate data requirements across state resilience grant programs have been strengthened. The new Climate Resilience Fund and Municipal Resilience Program (MRP) Action Grant RFPs both require applicants to demonstrate how their proposed projects will improve resilience to specific sea level rise, design storm, or temperature scenarios. Design-only projects must commit to incorporating specific climate scenarios into the design process. In addition, both new RFPs will provide a scoring boost to long-term resilience approaches, specifically relocation projects designed to move structures out of vulnerable floodplain locations. Projects proposing adaptation of existing structures (floodproofing, etc.) will be required to provide data on the current lifespan of the structure.

This year’s CRF and MRP Action Grant RFPs have been designed to allow for MRP Action Grant submittals (due July 26, 2024, at 12 PM) to be cross-considered for CRF awards. When applying for an MRP Action Grant, make sure to select “Yes” to Question 13: “Would you like your proposal to also be considered for the DEM Climate Resilience Fund (CRF)?” The match requirement for both grant programs is 25% of the grant award.

To apply, please submit your application to Chief Resilience Officer Kimberly Korioth (Kimberly.korioth@dem.ri.gov) via email by July 26 at 12 PM. A confirmation email will confirm your submittal.

Grant applications will be evaluated and scored by a review committee consisting of members of DEM, RI Infrastructure Bank (RIIB), RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), RI Department of Health (RIDOH), and RI Division of Statewide Planning (RIDSP).

For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.