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The Local Infrastructure Hub hosted a session on January 7, 2024 to discuss resources available to help cities with climate resiliency efforts. As climate change accelerates, cities are facing increasingly severe and frequent storms, floods, droughts, wildfires, and extreme heat. Preparing for these challenges – and responding effectively – requires strategic planning, timely action, and access to funding. We were joined by Mayor Ken Welch of St. Petersburg, Florida; Mayor Ravinder Bhalla of Hoboken, New Jersey; and Tracey Phillips, Deputy Director of Recovery, Hagerty Consulting.
Key insights shared:
Use data to drive decision making.
Hurricane Helene and Milton revealed the rapid impacts of climate change in St. Petersburg. Mayor Welch emphasized the need for smarter rebuilding policies, including difficult conversations about whether some things should be rebuilt at all due to flooding risks. He stressed the importance of data driven decision making and community collaboration in recovery efforts, and advised cities to broaden their coalitions. By engaging not only government agencies but also local businesses, nonprofits, and residents, cities can ensure a more comprehensive and unified approach to climate resilience.
Plan for long term sustainability while also providing residents with resources for short term solutions.
Mayor Bhalla advised cities to proactively address climate resiliency efforts by developing interim solutions while waiting for larger federal projects to unfold. For example, Hoboken created Resilient Buildings Design Guidelines that empower residents in flood-prone areas to take action now, such as installing wet-weather pumps, green roofs, or rain barrels. This approach allows cities to make incremental progress in building resilience at the individual property level, while Hoboken’s Rebuilding By Design project is under construction.
Federal funding takes time, consider how your community can make the process more efficient.
Tracey Phillips highlighted that federal funding programs require time to navigate. While efforts are underway to streamline them, communities should focus on being prepared. This means understanding the grants available, aligning them with local priorities, and meeting deadlines. She recommends increasing familiarity with grant management processes and utilizing outside technical assistance to expedite the application process. She also discussed the importance of leveraging local resources, partnerships, and technical assistance to expedite recovery.
Resources Shared During the Webinar and in Discussion:
- Hoboken ResilienCity Park Case Study
- PROTECT Grant NOFO
- RAISE Grant NOFO
- Resilient Infrastructure Resources
- Bootcamp Registration
Local Infrastructure Hub Bootcamp Materials
The Local Infrastructure Hub is here to support cities in communicating the success of BIL-funded projects through a mix of webinars, practical tools, and templates. Our Grant Application Bootcamp materials can guide you through different application processes and actionable steps to submit a strong application.
These materials were prepared as part of the Local Infrastructure Hub’s Fall 2022 Grant Application bootcamps. They include information on how to apply for federal funds and relevant tools and templates that can be applied to your grant application. The materials focus on how to build a community engagement plan, how to leverage community assets, how to effectively incorporate data into the grant application process, and how to construct a budget and a strong grant narrative. Upcoming Bootcamps and registration information can be found here.