Public Works Board creates December 2025 Flood Resilience Grant program with $9.75M initial cycle

The Public Works Board on July 10 approved a new December 2025 Flood Resilience Grant program funded by a $10,000,000 appropriation from the Natural Climate Solutions account and constrained to projects in counties named in the governor’s December 2025 weather-event proclamation.

Max Whiting outlined five staff-recommended actions the board approved: establishing the program; accepting noncompetitive, first-come/first-served applications with a $2,000,000 per-award cap (higher than the usual $1,000,000 emergency cap) because staff expect more ambitious resilience outcomes; setting a 12-month time of performance with extensions at board discretion; opening the funding cycle with $9,750,000 on Aug. 3, 2026 (reserving $250,000 for administration); and directing staff to perform targeted outreach to jurisdictions named in the governor’s proclamation alongside broader communications.

Whiting said projects must align with statute and demonstrate long-term environmental benefits and resilience outcomes (examples cited include floodplain and estuary restoration, green stormwater infrastructure, groundwater mapping and forest/community wildfire resilience). Staff and committee members said some projects may also be eligible for FEMA mitigation or other federal funding; staff proposed coordination with the Military Department and use of FEMA ineligibility lists to help screen applications. Staff also said if applicants later received federal reimbursement for the same scope, they would be required to return overlapping PWB funds.

Several board members urged caution on a $2,000,000 cap—Member Betso preferred $1,000,000—citing limited funds and the need to reach many communities. Staff explained the higher cap reflected higher expected project costs and environmental outcomes; members also discussed noncompetitive timing risks and agreed on targeted outreach and broader communications to reach small towns.

The board voted to: establish the program; approve the noncompetitive first-come/first-served cycle with a $2,000,000 per-award cap; set the 12-month performance window; open the cycle with $9,750,000 available on Aug. 3, 2026; and direct targeted and broad outreach. Staff noted awards would be made at future board meetings as applications are received and assessed.

Next steps: staff to publish application materials and guidance, finalize the Notice of Funding Opportunity, and begin outreach to county emergency management offices and association partners. The first board opportunity to approve awards is expected in September.