The N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP) is administered by the Division of Coastal Management (DCM) to support a locally driven process for setting coastal resilience goals, assessing community capacity, and identifying and prioritizing projects that strengthen resilience to coastal hazards. Funded by the N.C. General Assembly and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the RCCP provides both financial and technical assistance to help local governments overcome barriers to resilience and adaptation planning. The program aims to build local capacity and advance a proactive, equitable, and sustainable approach to coastal resilience. Through a structured, four-phase planning framework, participating communities assess their vulnerabilities and develop 'shovel-ready' projects tailored to their specific risks and needs. Eligible applicants include municipal and county governments within North Carolina’s 20 coastal counties (shown below), as well as federally or state-recognized tribes.

In this program, Phases 1 and 2 occur concurrently. During these initial phases, DCM contracts directly with technical assistance providers (i.e., contractors), relieving the procurement burden that can overwhelm coastal communities facing staffing, capacity, or financial limitations. These contractors assist communities in conducting risk and vulnerability assessments, engaging stakeholders, and developing a prioritized portfolio of resilience projects. In Phases 3 and 4, funding is awarded directly to communities, which then manage their own procurement processes to hire engineering firms for the design, permitting, and implementation of projects identified in the earlier phases.

The four phases of the program include:

Phase 1: Community Engagement and Risk & Vulnerability Assessment
This phase focuses on working with local stakeholders to identify climate-related risks and assess vulnerabilities specific to the community.

Phase 2: Planning, Project Selection, and Prioritization
Communities develop a resilience strategy and identify a prioritized portfolio of projects based on local needs, risk exposure, and stakeholder input.

Phase 3: Engineering and Design
Selected high-priority projects move into development, where communities receive support for feasibility studies, preliminary designs, and permitting readiness.

Phase 4: Project Implementation
Communities implement 'shovel-ready' projects, leveraging RCCP support and external funding to build long-term coastal resilience.

 Additionally, we are excited to announce that in early 2025, the Division of Coastal Management (DCM) launched a pilot program offering participating communities the opportunity to use outcomes from the RCCP to update their Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) Land Use Plans (LUPs) with a stronger focus on resilience. CAMA Land Use Plans are locally developed planning documents required under North Carolina’s Coastal Area Management Act that guide growth, development, and natural resource management in coastal communities. They serve as a key tool for aligning local policies with state coastal management goals and ensuring responsible, resilient land use in designated coastal areas. Many communities have rapidly aging CAMA LUPs, offering the perfect opportunity to begin incorporating resilience into long-term planning.

To learn more, hover over an eligible coastal county below (orange & dark blue) to view your DCM Point-of-Contact. Click on an eligible county to visit the RCCP Communities Dashboard and explore RCCP projects in that region. If you click on an ineligible county (light blue), you'll be directed to the NC Resilience Exchange, where you can learn more about alternative resilience opportunities, examples, and potential funding. 

Para obtener una descripción general del programa en español, desplácese hacia abajo hasta la pestaña denominada "Recursos en español" y descargue la versión en español del Manual de planificación del RCCP. 

The RCCP Planning Handbook is the primary resource for understanding the North Carolina Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP). It offers a comprehensive overview of how the program operates and outlines the foundational steps required in its initial phases. For communities and partners new to the RCCP, the Handbook is the recommended starting point, as it establishes the expectations and process for successfully completing Phases 1 and 2.

Although the Handbook provides a broad overview of the full four-phase framework, it is primarily intended to guide local governments and contracted technical assistance providers through Phases 1 and 2. It details the specific activities, deliverables, and milestones associated with each phase, and includes data sources, tools, and recommended methodologies to support successful outcomes. In addition, a Technical Appendix offers a curated collection of resilience resources that can be used to support RCCP participation or inform related resilience and adaptation efforts.
 

Mailing Address: 

Attn: Resilient Coastal Communities Program
N.C. Division of Coastal Management
400 Commerce Ave. 
Morehead City, NC 28557