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VIRGINIA RESILIENCE FUNDING

(CFPF & RVRF)

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October 25th, 2023

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RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER WATERSHED

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WETLANDS WATCH TEAM

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Shereen Hughes

Assistant Director

John Bateman

Planning Program Director

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We work where land, communities, and water meet to conserve nature in a changing climate.

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VIRGINIA RESILIENCE FUNDING OUTLINE

Summary & updates on the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF)

Applications Due: November 12th

Introduction to the Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund (RVRF)

Applications Due: December 12th

Discussion / Questions

Rappahannock Symposium

October 25th, 2023

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COMMUNITY FLOOD PREPAREDNESS FUND OVERVIEW

In 2020, Virginia joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) - 45% of the revenue from RGGI auctions go to the CFPF

Since 2020, the CFPF has received $730M

DCR administered 3 grant rounds for the CFPF - awarding $97.7M to localities across VA

$85M is available in round 4 via grants and loans, award announcement should be December 2023

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October 25th, 2023

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RGGI PROCEEDS & CFPF ALLOCATIONS

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CFPF AWARD CYCLES

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COMMUNITY FLOOD PREPAREDNESS FUND OVERVIEW

Grant Categories include*:

Planning & Capacity Building
Studies
Projects (Local Resilience Plan required)

Round 4 is open until November 12th, 2023

*$50M is available in grants for all three categories. An additional $35M is available in loans (loans only apply to projects).

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EXAMPLES OF FUNDED APPLICATIONS

(hyperlinked)

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Round 1 Award:

Middle Peninsula PDC - $26.4K for Carlton Road Boat Ramp, Design and Permitting

Round 2 Awards:

Middle Peninsula PDC - $35.2 for Capacity Building

Northern Neck PDC - $45K for Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Town of Tappahannock - $70K for Hoskins Creek Flood Protection Project

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EXAMPLES OF FUNDED APPLICATIONS

(hyperlinked)

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Round 3 Awards:

King George County - $30.3K for Resilience Plan

Rappahannock-Rapidan Regional Commission - $37.5K for Resilience Plan

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CFPF: ROUND 4

Round 4 is open until November 12th, 2023

$50 million is available in grants for all three categories
$35 million is available in loans (offered for first time)

Loans only apply to the Project category

Applications must be submitted via the WebGrants portal

Training and resources are available
Mail-in applications are allowed w/ approval from DCR

Award announcements TBD

Rappahannock Symposium

October 25th, 2023

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CFPF: MANUAL UPDATE

Draft manual released July 7th, 2023

Public comment period July 7th - August 6th, 2023

6 comments received - HRPDC, LRNow, City of Alexandria, VA Municipal Stormwater Association, Pew
WW submitted with other partners

Comments incorporated & final manual released on September 13th, 2023

Summary of changes

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October 25th, 2023

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CFPF: NEW MANUAL UPDATES

Match is waived for low-income communities for projects up to $1M
Increased applicant cap to $7.5M (for both grants and loans, non-cumulative)
Certified floodplain managers may be contracted outside of a locality’s employ to approve projects
Up to 50% of maintenance costs for projects may be allowed for award
Up to 15% of award may be requested up-front as start-up costs for low-income communities; 10% for all others (RVRF has the same guideline)

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October 25th, 2023

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CFPF: NEW MANUAL UPDATES

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Match requirements for Planning and Capacity Building and/or Studies in low-income geographic areas may be waived for requests less than $50,000, and for Project requests less than $1 million.

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CFPF: NEW MANUAL LIMITATIONS

“Community Scale” is defined as 25% of a census block

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October 25th, 2023

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CFPF: NEW MANUAL LIMITATIONS

Resilience plans must be updated after 3 years
CFPF does not fund existing staff salary, but it can be used as an in-kind match

New staff or funding new tasks related to the project are fundable through the CFPF

Tribes are not included in the definition of “local government” and are therefore not eligible for this round
The locality must include procedure for replacement costs should a project fail under “normal operating conditions” within its lifespan (minimum: 10 years)

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RESOURCES (HYPERLINKED)

DCR Community Flood Preparedness Fund Webpage

Wetlands Watch CFPF Tracking Page

List of Applications Funded

Wetlands Watch CFPF Fact Sheet

Approved Local Resilience Plans Overview

Local Resilience Plan Consultant List

Locality Award Fact Sheets

Rappahannock Symposium

October 25th, 2023

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RESILIENT VIRGINIA REVOLVING FUND (RVRF) OVERVIEW

In 2022, the VA GA passed SB 756/HB 1309, establishing RVRF

In 2022, $25M was moved from the CFPF to capitalize RVRF & required 10% match for FEMA STORM Act

2023 biennial budget: $100M to RVRF

2023 Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Revolving Loan Fund Program FEMA Award — $6.1M

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FEMA STORM ACT

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VA is one of 8 states (and DC) to pass legislation & received STORM $$

Recent distribution $6.1M

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RVRF GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Guided by Coastal Resilience Master Planning Framework principles (abbreviated)

Acknowledge the consequences of climate change, and base decision-making in best available science
Identify and address socioeconomic inequities
Utilize community and regional scale planning to the maximum extent possible
Focus on cost-effective solutions for protection and adaptation of communities
Recognize the importance and prioritize use of nature-based solutions

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RVRF GUIDING PRINCIPLES (CONT.)

Guided by Chief Resilience Officer’s statewide flood resilience principles:

We are committed to addressing challenges relating to flooding and resiliency.
We must address these challenges with programs that work for all impacted parts of Virginia.
The programs we implement must work together as parts of comprehensive, cohesive plans.
These programs and plans must be developed and implemented with transparency and input from the public.

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RVRF ROUND 1: DETAILS

$18.5 million available

Local Match for Federal Programs ($5m)
Hazard Mitigation of Buildings ($7.5m)
Establishment of Local Flood Resilience Funding Programs ($5m - grants)
Capitalization of Local Flood Resilience Funding Programs ($1m)

Applications are restricted to local governments. A single applicant may receive up to $7.5m in grants and $7.5m in long-term loans (non-cumulative).

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RVRF ROUND 1: DETAILS

Local Match for Federal Programs ($5m)

Standard loan terms:

Interest rate of 2% plus a 0.2% administrative fee
Loan terms may be for 20-years or less after project completion and no longer than the expected useful life of the financed asset

Low-Income/Underserved Community loan terms:

Interest rate of 1% plus a 0.2% administrative fee
Loan terms may be for 30-years or less after project completion and not longer than the expected design life of the project

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RVRF ROUND 1: DETAILS

Local Match for Federal Programs…continued

Eligible Federal Programs:

FEMA – Flood Mitigation Assistance
FEMA – Hazard Mitigation Assistance
FEMA – Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities
FEMA – High Hazard Potential Dam Grant
HUD – Community Development Block Grant
EPA – Environmental and Climate Justice Program
NOAA – Climate Adaptation Partnerships Program (formerly RISA)
USGS – Studies & Gauges
DOD – Defense Critical Infrastructure Program
USACE – Civil Works Program
Other federal programs as approved by the Department

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RVRF ROUND 1: DETAILS

Hazard Mitigation of Buildings ($7.5m)

Standard loan terms:

Interest rate of 1.75% plus a 0.2% administrative fee
Loan terms may be for 15 years or less after project completion and not longer than the expected design life

Low Income/Underserved Community loan terms:

Interest rate of 1.2% plus a 0.2% administrative fee
Loan terms may be for 20 years or less after project completion and not longer than the expected design life of the project

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RVRF ROUND 1: DETAILS

Hazard Mitigation of Buildings…continued

Grant minimum is $100,000, loan maximum is $1,000,000
Loan amounts cannot exceed the total cost of the project
Multiple buildings may be grouped together into a single project
Projects must have an expected useful life of at least 10 years and applications must be accompanied by a maintenance plan

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RVRF ROUND 1: DETAILS

Hazard Mitigation of Buildings…continued

Eligible costs:

Local match for any of the grant programs identified in award category A
Home buy-outs and relocation/demolition*
“In Kind Services”
Costs for which any federal, state, local or other grant funds will be provided
Administrative costs
Costs to operate or maintain the project

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RVRF ROUND 1: DETAILS

Establishment of Local Flood Resilience Funding Programs ($5m - grants)

Applicants do not need an established loan program to receive award for this category

BUT: the grantee must have local decision-maker approval of at least a conceptual outline of the program before receiving $ - within 12 months of award notification

Grant minimum is $10,000, loan maximum is $500,000. 10% match required (except LICs)

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RVRF ROUND 1: DETAILS

Capitalization of Local Flood Resilience Funding Programs ($1m - interest only loans)

Applicants must have an established loan program, complete with an approved program design, to receive award for this category
Interest only loans at an interest rate of not more than 0.50% for a term of not more than 10 years
Loans may be renewed in whole or in part at maturity with demonstrated Local Program performance
Loan minimum is $250,000, loan maximum is $500,000

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RVRF ROUND 1: DETAILS

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“Capitalization” loans are interest-only. These funds are meant to capitalize the revolving loan program established by the local government and remain as a revolving fund.

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WHICH FUNDING SOURCE TO USE?

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RESOURCES

CFPF/RVRF Trainings

DCR held hybrid grant trainings
Presentation/recording are available on DCR’s CFPF webpage

WebGrants Office Hours (DCR)

DCR is hosting Webgrants trainings on 10/11, 10/25, and 11/8 from 1pm to 2pm
WebGrants portal, training video, registration guide, and applicant instructions are available on DCR’s CFPF webpage

See our website or contact us for technical assistance

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October 25th, 2023

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DISCUSSION

Does your locality plan to apply for the CFPF or the RVRF? Both? Which seems more approachable or applicable to your community?

Have local staff expressed any barriers in applying for these funds? How can we (Wetlands Watch) or DCR help overcome these barriers?

If your locality has applied for and received funding from the CFPF in the past, how did the process go? Are you planning on applying again as this funding is available?

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October 25th, 2023

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QUESTIONS?

Rappahannock Symposium

October 25th, 2023

john.bateman@wetlandswatch.org

gabi.kinney@wetlandswatch.org

savannah.newbern@wetlandswatch.org

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Rappahannock Symposium

October 25th, 2023

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