Regional council unveils Resilient First Coast plan: 34 actions, 83 subactions, phase 3 funding push

Farrah Elami, regional resiliency manager at the Northeast Florida Regional Council, briefed the waterways commission on the Resilient First Coast Collaborative’s Regional Resilience Action Plan, describing the document as a voluntary, multi‑partner framework local governments can use to guide resilience investments.

Elami said the plan — developed by the collaborative and the regional council — defines four goals (durable built environment, vibrant quality of life, thriving regional economy and healthy natural environment) and contains 34 actions and 83 subactions. She described phase 1 (goals and objectives) and phase 2 (detailed actions and partner lists) as complete and said the collaborative released phase‑2 materials in September 2025. Phase 3 will focus on establishing metrics, identifying relevant resources and pursuing funding.

When asked about potential funding sources, Elami named the state’s Resilient Florida program and national sources such as the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and said the council will explore both public and private options tailored to each action. She said the Resilient First Coast Collaborative has more than 80 partner commitments and that local governments and regional entities (including water management districts) are intended beneficiaries.

Elami encouraged staff and commissioners to consult the published action plan for details on facilitation, guidance and analysis actions, and offered follow‑up coordination through the collaborative’s staff.