The Albemarle Commission worked with NCORR’s RISE Program to develop a portfolio of priority projects that strengthen regional resilience. This multi-phase effort included a forward-looking vulnerability assessment, the identification of five to 10 high-priority projects and a list of the actions needed to implement each proposed project. A diverse stakeholder partnership guided the project to ensure that the scope of work reflected local priorities. The Albemarle Commission offered project guidance, the NC Rural Center hired a local leader to provide facilitation support and Tetra Tech provided technical assistance.
Stay Informed
The Duke Energy Foundation awarded Accelerator Grant Program funding to support the following resilience project identified in the Albemarle region's Resilience Project Portfolio:
Stormwater, Water Quality and Flooding Outreach Toolkit
- Applicant: Albemarle Commission
- Amount: $65,000
- Project Summary: The Albemarle Commission will coordinate the development of an outreach toolkit of customizable templates to provide hazard preparedness messaging to the Albemarle regions’ 10 member counties and 15 member municipalities. Designed to be dispersed through local government channels of communication, the templates will target diverse audiences using a variety of methods, including short videos, educational brochures, social media outreach, graphics, and other content, as needed. The outreach materials will help educate residents about the flow of water in the unique environment of the Albemarle region and how they can help reduce flooding and contaminants. The customizable templates could also be shared with local governments outside of the region that need to educate their residents on stormwater, flooding, and water quality.
Review the Climate Resilience Portfolio
The Regional Resilience Project Portfolio for the Albemarle Region identifies priority projects and strategies that reduce the risks associated with extreme weather events and enhance regional resilience. The portfolio aims to produce shovel-ready actions with detailed implementation steps, including estimated costs, potential implementing partners, likely project completion challenges and more.
Review the Vulnerability Assessment
The Climate Change and Natural Hazards Vulnerability Assessment for the Albemarle Region is a report describing past problems and future risks associated with extreme weather events such as hurricanes, flooding, extreme temperatures, droughts and wildfires. The report outlines the impacts of these climate hazards on housing, the environment and the economy.
For more information about the state's RISE initiative in the Albemarle Commission region, contact Resilient Communities Program Manager Brian Byfield.
Project Overview
Step 1. Vulnerability Assessment
The first phase of the project was the development of a vulnerability assessment. This analysis brought together science and local knowledge to paint a picture of hazards in the region and how they may change in the future.
Step 2. Propose and Prioritize Projects
The second phase of the project was the development of a portfolio of several projects that have regional benefits for resilience. Proposed projects could include construction projects, nature-based solutions, outreach and capacity-building activities, or planning and policy developments. The regional benefit could come in many forms, such as reducing downstream flooding, offering a resource to multiple local governments, or crafting a pilot project with replicability in other places.
A critical component of developing the portfolio was finding achievable paths to implementation, including funding sources and capacity considerations. The region had the opportunity to select a project for seed funding from the Duke Energy Resilience Accelerator Grant Program.
Resource Documents
The RISE effort builds on analysis and planning conducted over the last several years. These resources include: