CSCI Awards $2.2M to Accelerate Local Climate Resilience Efforts
The Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI), a public-private partnership in which CRF is the managing partner, has announced 21 grants totaling $2.2M. The awards, which include funding and technical support, will enable each of the selected communities to work with a climate adaptation practitioner and advance their plans and preparations for extreme weather events and other climate impacts.
“There is real demand from communities across the country,” said John Nordgren, Managing Director of the Climate Resilience Fund. “It is exciting to see how many local officials, community organizations, and leading experts want to work together, understand the threats they are facing, develop plans, and implement climate resilience efforts.”
The CSCI grants program is focused on assisting communities that are facing significant climate challenges with limited resources. For this round of grants, the Initiative received 118 applications from communities in 35 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Some of the communities are at risk from stronger storms, sea level rise, or flash flooding, while others must account for the reality of extended droughts, extreme heat, or destructive wildfires. Thanks to the investments of two private funders, The Coca Cola Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation, CSCI was able to award more grants than expected, and anticipates providing another round of funding next year.
For more on the awards, as well as other resources available from CSCI – including training in the Steps to Resilience, access to an Adaptation Help Desk, insights from a learning and innovation program, and links to the new Registry of Adaptation Practitioners – visit www.climatesmartcommunity.org.