Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund

The Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF) Round 6 is administered by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in collaboration with the Virginia Resources Authority (VRA). It is established under the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act, and authorized by sections §10.1-603.25 and §10.1-603.29 of the Code of Virginia. The fund is designed to support flood prevention, protection, and resilience initiatives at the community level. Funding is sourced from revenue generated by the sale of emissions allowances, appropriations by the General Assembly, loan repayments, investment earnings, and other public or private contributions eligible under federal law. At least 25% of disbursed funds annually are allocated to low-income geographic areas. The grant program prioritizes nature-based solutions and community-scale projects aimed at mitigating recurrent flooding. Eligible projects must be endorsed by a Certified Floodplain Manager and align with a Resilience Plan approved by the DCR. These projects may include capacity building, planning, hydrologic or hydraulic studies, and implementation of infrastructure for flood risk reduction. The CFPF also supports projects that complement initiatives by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) and Flood Risk Management (FRM), provided they have received construction authorization. CFPF Round 6 opens for applications on October 15, 2025, and closes on December 1, 2025. Applications must be submitted electronically via the WebGrants Portal or mailed with prior approval. Pre-application steps like submitting a resilience plan for project categories must be completed at least 30 days before the application period. Grants are available across four categories—Capacity Building and Planning, Studies, Projects, and USACE CSRM/FRM Projects—with varying match requirements depending on project type and whether the applicant is in a low-income area. Maximum grant awards are capped at $7.5 million per applicant, with specific provisions for short-term and long-term loans. Eligible applicants include local governments and recognized tribes in Virginia. Applicants may submit joint proposals and must demonstrate authorization from the local governing body. Matching funds may consist of in-kind contributions, RVRF loans, or other verifiable sources. Pre-award costs and maintenance expenses are eligible if properly justified and itemized in the application. Indirect costs and supplanting of existing staff salaries are not eligible. Applications must include an application form, a detailed scope of work narrative, and a budget narrative using the provided template. Required attachments include floodplain ordinance links, maps, vulnerability indexes, letters of support, and benefit-cost analyses for projects over $2 million. Projects located in NFIP communities or special flood hazard areas must provide relevant documentation. Applications will be scored competitively by a multi-agency Advisory Review Committee, with final awards approved by DCR in consultation with the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources and the Chief Resilience Officer. For assistance, applicants may contact the Division of Floodplain Management at (804) 371-6095 or cfpf@dcr.virginia.gov. Final deliverables are due within 90 days of project completion. Funding is disbursed on a reimbursement basis. All funded projects in designated planning districts must be registered with the Virginia Coastal Resilience Web Explorer. Awarded projects must begin within 9 months of grant agreement execution and be completed within 36 or 60 months, depending on category. The grant manual and all required forms are available on the Department's WebGrants Portal.

Ensure the Resilience Plan is submitted 30 days before the cycle. Use the required template for the budget narrative. Emphasize nature-based and community-scale solutions for better scoring.