RISE Rural coastal community
$1.5 Million resilience challenge

The impact of climate change is being experienced at an accelerated rate. In the U.S., almost 40% of the population lives in coastal areas vulnerable to sea level rise, leaving these communities at higher risk of flooding, shoreline erosion, and hazards from storms.

With thousands of miles of shoreline, rural coastal Virginia is uniquely vulnerable to coastal storms and flooding associated with tides and extreme precipitation, which are exacerbated by climate change and sea level rise. Exposure to broad rivers and the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean intensify coastal erosion, risking private property and public infrastructure. Saltwater intrusion is also a threat to well water quality and to coastal farms and forests. The region’s heavy reliance on septic systems for wastewater disposal presents both economic and public health challenges.

To address these issues, the RISE Rural Coastal Community Resilience Challenge offers up to $1,700,000 in grants and over $1,000,000 in support services to businesses solving the many problems that face rural coastal communities as a result of climate change. Selected teams will work closely with government, business, academic and tech leaders in coastal Virginia on pilots to validate their innovative solutions across the rural Middle Peninsula region and scale them to other communities.

Rural coastal Virginia presents a rare opportunity: Numerous publicly owned properties and buildings for real-world product testing and development; an unbeatable living laboratory for the best climate resilience and adaptation solutions; and the chance to make a positive impact quickly.