2025 Awarded Communities

Recipient: Figus Consulting Services, LLC

Project Partners: Organized Village of Kake Tribe; Spruce Root

Southeast Alaska is experiencing increasing extreme weather events and new patterns as the climate changes, notably with periods of drought followed by intense rainfall. Residents in the Keex Kwaan Community Use Area, which surrounds the community of Kake on Kupreanof Island, are especially vulnerable, as this majority Alaska Native community is geographically isolated and historically underserved. This grant will make it possible for the project team to develop a comprehensive climate adaptation plan for Keex Kwaan that emphasizes outreach, education, and food sovereignty. The project team includes the Organized Village of Kake Tribe; community development organization Spruce Root; and climate adaptation practitioner Figus Consulting Services, LLC.

Contact: Elizabeth Figus, Owner, Figus Consulting Services, LLC.

Recipient: American Rivers

Project Partners: Juaneño Band of Mission Indians; Acjachemen Nation – Belardes; Juaneño Band of Mission Indians; Acjachemen Nation – 84A; Gabrieleno/Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians; Orange County Environmental Justice Education Fund (OCEJEF); Friends of Puvungna

The Indigenous and low-income communities of Orange County, California disproportionately bear the burden of escalating climate impacts, which include rising temperatures and extreme heat events, and increased risk of drought and flood. With this grant, the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation – Belardes, the Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, Acjachemen Nation – 84A, and the Gabrieleno/Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians will work together with Orange County Environmental Justice Education Fund (OCEJEF), Friends of Puvungna, and American Rivers, to design a pilot floodplain restoration project that promotes collaborative stewardship, engages local residents, and identifies solutions that can be applied throughout the region.

Contact: Patricia Flores, Associate Director, American Rivers.

Recipient: Sierra Streams Institute

Project Partners: California Heritage Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP); Nisenan Tribe

The residents of Nevada County are well aware of the impacts of a changing climate, including the increased risk of wildfire. California Heritage Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP), the non-profit guided by the Nisenan, the indigenous people of the region, will partner with Sierra Streams Institute to craft an approach to wildfire mitigation grounded in Traditional Ecological Knowledge and nature-based solutions. The project team will initiate a crucial workforce development pilot in the form of a new nonprofit called Greensleeves: a rewilding project, which will recruit and train restoration crews from the local population. This project will serve as a model for building the restoration economy locally and regionally, as crews  will be trained to deploy and implement wildfire mitigation treatments for various organizations. These treatments will include controlled burns; hand-thinning and piling; invasive species removal; and native herbaceous layer restoration, all in pursuit of a return to overall forest health.

Contact: Helen Fitanides, Science Director, Sierra Streams Institute.

Recipient: ICF

Project Partners: Straughan Environmental; CHPlanning

More intense rain events have significantly impacted residents and businesses of the Watts Branch Watershed, which spans a portion of Ward 7 in Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland. This grant will enable the project team to expand on the efforts of the Blue Green Infrastructure Community Engagement and Planning (BGI) study, a partnership between various DC and Prince George’s County government agencies that enables the implementation of nature-based climate resilience efforts. The project team, consisting of ICF, Straughan Environmental, and CHPlanning, will work with the community to help design a flood mitigation strategy within the Capitol Heights area of the watershed.

Contact: Amanda Vargo, Managing Consultant – Climate Resilience, ICF.

This grant was awarded through the Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI).

Recipient: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA)

Project Partners: City of Boynton Beach; Community Greening; EcoAdapt; American Forests

As extreme heat intensifies in South Florida, communities in Boynton Beach face growing health risks from rising temperatures and limited access to shade and cooling resources. The award will aid the City of Boynton Beach in the development of a community-driven urban heat resilience strategy in partnership with ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA, Community Greening, EcoAdapt, and American Forests. The project will bring together data analysis and local voices to identify and prioritize equitable cooling solutions. A pilot tree distribution program will prioritize residents in low-canopy neighborhoods. The resilience strategy will guide future planning and policy for a cooler, healthier Boynton Beach.

Contact: Jess Grannis, Director of Programs, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI USA).

Recipient: Resilient Cities Catalyst

Project Partners: Georgia Conservancy; Chatham County government

With its coastal location, Chatham County is especially vulnerable to climate-related impacts. Rising sea levels and groundwater tables, stronger storms, and increased flooding now pose significant threats to the area’s natural and built environments. And neighborhoods such as Montgomery, Pin Point, Sandfly, and other small communities along the Ogeechee River are at high risk due to a combination of geographic exposure, economic challenges, and historic underinvestment. With this grant, Resilient Cities Catalyst (RCC) will work with representatives from the community, the Georgia Conservancy, and the Chatham County government to develop a “Resilience Roadmap.” This roadmap will articulate a clear vision for the county’s climate resilience efforts, and provide a common set of goals and priorities to guide county staff, elected officials, and community partners alike.

Contact: Paul Nelson, Founding Principal, Resilient Cities Catalyst.

Recipient: Headwaters Economics

Project Partners: Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization; Maui County officials

Maui County consists of the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Lana’i, Moloka’i, Kaho’olawe, and Molokini. Rising temperatures, longer droughts, and extreme wind events have combined with the spread of invasive grasses to make these islands increasingly vulnerable to wildfires. In 2023, the Lahaina wildfire drew global attention to this vulnerability and the destruction that can result. Over the coming year, the project team, consisting of issue experts from Headwaters Economics working alongside the Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization and local officials from Maui County, will engage local stakeholders, including and especially the most vulnerable populations, in a comprehensive review of wildfire risk and suggest improvements to local plans and policies.

Contact: Patty Hernandez, Executive Director, Headwaters Economics.

Recipient: The Keystone Concept

Project Partners: Wood River Land Trust; Blaine County Government

Blaine County faces several vulnerabilities related to climate change, including elevated wildfire risk, increased water scarcity, and extreme weather events. Those who work in the county’s agriculture, construction, hospitality, and recreation industries can be especially vulnerable. With this award, adaptation practitioners at The Keystone Concept will collaborate with the Wood River Land Trust and the Blaine County Government to engage community stakeholders in the implementation of previously identified priorities, including nature-based solutions such as planting shade trees, improving forest management, and restoring riparian areas. Through these efforts, the partners aim to reduce risks and increase preparedness.

Contact: Lance Davisson, Owner and Principal Consultant, The Keystone Concept.

Recipient: Central Appalachian Network

Project Partners: Floyd County KY BRECC; Floyd County Fiscal Court; Central Appalachian Network’s Community Resilience Working Group

Floyd County has more historic coal camps than any other county in Appalachian Kentucky, reflecting a rich cultural history as well as decades of economic challenges. The county also faces climate-related challenges, with intense storms bringing increased flooding. To address these challenges, members of the community are coming together in pursuit of strategies to foster economic recovery and increase climate resilience. With this grant, Floyd County KY BRECC (Building Resilient Economies in Coal Communities), working alongside the Floyd County Fiscal Court and the Central Appalachian Network’s Community Resilience Working Group, will undertake a flood mitigation assessment, consider the creation of a community resilience hub, and develop a “Higher Ground Housing Strategy,” which will include research on how best to help homeowners.

Contact: Emily Carlson, Network Coordinator, Central Appalachian Network.

Recipient: EcoAdapt

Project Partners: New Orleans East Green Infrastructure Collective; Water Wise Gulf South; New Orleans Department of Parks and Parkways

New Orleans East is experiencing rising temperatures and intensifying urban heat island effects that strain infrastructure and threaten public health. In response, the New Orleans East Green Infrastructure Collective (NOEGIC), EcoAdapt, Water Wise Gulf South, and the New Orleans Department of Parks and Parkways are partnering to undertake a climate vulnerability and risk assessment process and initiate the implementation of a targeted green infrastructure initiative. The grant will allow NOEGIC and partners to identify areas most affected by extreme heat, engage residents through workshops and strategy sessions, and expand the community’s urban tree canopy. Together, these efforts will build long-term resilience and support a healthier, greener New Orleans East.

Contact: Kathryn Braddock, Lead Scientist, EcoAdapt.

Recipient: Creation Justice Ministries

Project Partners: Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NOVA); Wicomico County officials

This grant will enable the project team to collaborate with faith-based communities in the city of Salisbury to pursue a range of climate resilience solutions, including the establishment of resilience hubs and the implementation of stormwater mitigation efforts, food sovereignty initiatives, and workforce development programs. These solutions had been identified during listening and planning sessions, where community members discussed the climate impacts affecting their neighborhoods and emphasized the disruption to daily life that has come with the flooding resulting from rising sea-levels. The project team will include adaptation experts from Creation Justice Ministries, working alongside local leaders from Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NOVA), and government officials from Wicomico County.

Contact: Avery Lamb, Executive Director, Creation Justice Ministries.

Recipient: South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center

Project Partners: Rio Chama Acequia Association; New Mexico Acequia Association; American Rivers

During the summer of 2024, intense rain triggered catastrophic flooding and significant sediment accumulation in the Rio Chama basin, damaging homes and fields, as well as acequias, which are traditional, community-managed irrigation ditches. With the increasing temperatures and altered precipitation patterns expected with climate change, more intense storms and periods of prolonged drought will continue to compromise water supply and local agricultural practices. In response, the Rio Chama Acequia Association will use this grant to work with member acequias, the New Mexico Acequia Association, American Rivers, and the South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center to develop a community-led watershed resilience plan focused on mitigating the impacts of drought, flooding, and erosion. The plan will build on local knowledge to assess climate risks and identify adaptive strategies for building resilience.

Contact: Stephanie Mladinich, Climate Adaptation Specialist, South Central Climate Adaptation Science Center.

Recipient: BSC Group, Inc.

Project Partners: Town of Navassa, North Carolina

Climate change and development pressures threaten the cultural heritage and safety of Navassa, a coastal town facing increasing risks from flooding, sea level rise, and extreme heat. A grant will support the town and its partners in launching “EcoProtect,” a community-driven project to assess, prioritize, and advance nature-based solutions (NbS) to increase resilience to these threats. Building on the Navassa Resilience Strategy, this initiative will align vulnerable locations and assets with effective NbS to protect public health, the local economy, and critical natural and cultural resources. Through community engagement, technical analysis, and site-based dialogue, the project will co-develop ten implementable NbS strategies and foster public understanding of local climate risks. By employing a collaborative approach, this project aims to serve as a model for climate resilience efforts along the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.

Contact: Charlie Foster, Coastal Program Manager, BSC Group, Inc.

Recipient: Fernleaf

Project Partners: Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance; Town of Woodfin; Land of Sky Regional Council, Swannanoa Resilience Coordination Hub; RiverLink; Equinox; Appalachian Voices; Warren Wilson College; Thrive Asheville; MountainTrue

Hurricane Helene brought devastating impacts to the small communities of Swannanoa and Woodfin, exposing long-standing vulnerabilities and disrupting lives. A grant of $130,000 will enable Fernleaf to facilitate an array of partners, including the Swannanoa Grassroots Alliance, the Town of Woodfin, the Land of Sky Regional Council, the Swannanoa Resilience Coordination Hub, RiverLink, Equinox, Appalachian Voices, Warren Wilson College, Thrive Asheville, and MountainTrue, to advance community-driven climate resilience and recovery planning. Through hazard assessments, inclusive engagement, and targeted training, the project will co-develop actionable, fundable strategies to reduce risk and strengthen long-term resilience. By centering community voices and local priorities, this initiative will serve as a model for climate resilience and recovery, demonstrating how place-based solutions can guide future adaptation across the region.

Contact: Matt Hutchins, CEO & Senior Resilience Specialist, Fernleaf.

Recipient: BSC Group, Inc.

Project Partners: Athens County; Rural Action

The Athens County Hazard Mitigation Plan identified flooding as the most significant natural hazard facing the community. With a changing climate, the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events is expected to increase the number of intense downpours that can lead to flooding. Under this grant, Athens County and Rural Action, along with adaptation practitioners from BSC Group, will collaborate with local stakeholders to develop flood impact mapping from a combination of community observations and computational watershed modeling. Together this will improve their shared understanding of the risk from flood, erosion, and sedimentation, an essential step in the county’s pursuit of climate resilience.

Contact: Ryan Gilliom, Conservation Project Specialist, Rural Action.

Recipient: WaterNow Alliance

Project Partners: City of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh Water

Pittsburgh residents are experiencing chronic adverse impacts from flooding and sewage overflows, which have disproportionately affected low-income neighborhoods. To address this, the WaterNow Alliance, the City of Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh Water have partnered to establish the Rain Reclaim: Vacant Lots to Green Stormwater Infrastructure project, which will repurpose city-owned vacant lots into long-term green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). This work aims to reduce urban flooding, improve water quality, and provide multiple community benefits. The project will pilot the selection and technical design of 1-2 vacant lot sites in the City’s Negley Run watershed, conduct a cost-benefit analysis, and analyze financing options to lay the foundation for a scalable, long-term GSI effort.

Contact: Amy Weinfurter, Director of Strategic Projects, WaterNow Alliance.

Recipient: Insurance for Good

Project Partners: City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability; Eastwick United CDC

The low-lying Eastwick neighborhood in Southwest Philadelphia has experienced repeated floods, and climate change threatens to increase the frequency and intensity of these events. Residents struggle to find appropriate and affordable flood insurance protection, leaving them vulnerable to financial hardships after floods. In response, Insurance for Good, the City of Philadelphia Office of Sustainability, and Eastwick United CDC are partnering to assess the feasibility of new and innovative insurance products for residents. The partners will survey and speak with residents about their flood insurance needs; engage with regulators; and work with private-sector companies to identify solutions. Additionally, the partners will develop a menu of funding options for voluntary property buyouts to provide more equitable and affordable flood recovery options for residents.

Contact: Carolyn Kousky, Executive Director and Founder, Insurance for Good.

Recipient: Climigration Network

Project Partners: Un Nuevo Amanecer, Inc.; Autonomous Municipality of Ponce

Through this grant, Un Nuevo Amanecer (UNA), the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce, and climate resilience experts from the Climigration Network will work hand-in-hand with residents of Barrio Playa to address the rising threats of extreme heat, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding. Barrio Playa is a low-lying coastal area in Ponce. The area is home to many low-income families, including those living in informal settlements, making the area especially vulnerable to climate impacts. This project will feature a collaborative, community-driven effort that will result in a practical and inclusive climate resilience plan that reflects the lived realities of Playa’s residents. The project will include a robust public engagement campaign, expanded local training programs, the implementation of nature-based solutions, and the development of effective emergency response and evacuation strategies — all guided by the voices and leadership of the community itself.

Contact: Kristin Marcell, Director Climigration Network or David Southgate, Board Member and Advisor, Un Nuevo Amanecer, Inc.

Recipient: Coastal Quest

Project Partners: Protectores de Cuencas Inc.; Culebra municipal government

Culebra, a small island community located 17 miles east of Puerto Rico’s main island, faces significant climate change-related challenges. Rising global temperatures have contributed to an increase in the frequency and intensity of tropical storms, while rising sea levels and expanded coastal erosion threaten to damage the island’s environment and economy. With this grant, the adaptation experts at Coastal Quest will work with the community-based organization Protectores de Cuencas (PDC) and the Culebra municipal government to take one of the essential steps identified in a prior planning process, the creation of a plant nursery with the capacity to grow the native trees and vetiver grasses that are needed for the restoration of coastal ecosystems.

Contact: Mary Ann King, Coastal Ecosystem Project Manager, Coastal Quest.

Recipient: Adaptation International

Project Partners: Fuerza Unida; City of San Antonio’s Office of Sustainability

With support from this grant, Adaptation International, Fuerza Unida, and the City of San Antonio’s Office of Sustainability will deepen their collaboration to reduce climate risks—particularly for the elderly and low-income residents of the city’s South San neighborhood who are especially vulnerable to heat, flooding, and poor air quality. The team will build local capacity by launching a Neighborhood Cooling Committee and training youth to plant native, drought-tolerant trees that provide shade and improve environmental health. The effort will combine education, workforce development, and nature-based solutions to advance long-term, community-driven climate resilience.

Contact: Celine Rendon, Climate Resilience Specialist, Adaptation International.

Recipient: PICEA Consulting Group

Project Partners: Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe; Conservation Biology Institute

Climate change threatens the ancestral lands, cultural traditions, and livelihoods of the Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe (SSIT). Rising temperatures are melting glaciers, lowering the water quality of local rivers and raising the risk of flooding. These combined impacts are shifting habitats of culturally significant species, including species and natural resources that provide food security. With this grant, the Tribe and its partners, including the community-based Conservation Biology Institute and the adaptation practitioner PICEA Consulting Group, will conduct a comprehensive climate vulnerability assessment and develop a climate resilience plan that integrates traditional ecological knowledge, incorporates nature-based solutions, and guides future adaptation efforts.

Contact: Chas Jones, Principal Scientist and CEO, PICEA Consulting Group.