MRP
Workshop to action grants
Facilitated CRB workshops with lead facilitators, scribes, and minimal municipal burden; funded by the Bank and its workshop consultant.
Read storyMunicipal Resilience Program (MRP)
Resilient Rhody, Rhode Island’s first comprehensive climate resilience action strategy, was released in 2018. It identifies priority actions to build statewide resilience, with a focus on working collaboratively with and in support of municipalities. The Municipal Resilience Program (MRP) provides direct support to cities and towns to complete a municipal-driven Community Resilience Building (CRB) workshop process (see CommunityResilienceBuilding.org) that combines climate information and local knowledge to identify top hazards, current challenges, and strengths. The process produces priority projects and strategies to improve resilience to natural and climate-related hazards. After a successful MRP workshop, municipalities may be designated “Resilient Rhody Municipalities” and can apply for dedicated MRP Action Grants to implement projects.
CRB
Workshop process
Local knowledge + data
25%
Action grant match
Typical local share
MRP
Action grants
Annual opportunity
RI
Towns & cities
Cohort-based
Eligibility
Who can apply
Cities and towns that complete the MRP Community Resilience Building process and meet designation requirements; Action Grant applicants must align projects with workshop outcomes and portfolio rules.
Use of funds
MRP Action Grants support projects identified through the workshop, that improve climate resilience, and result in design, engineering, and/or construction—not for research-only activities such as studies or unfunded plans. Eligible work can include (among other categories) dam retrofits or removal, road elevation, floodproofing, pump stations, berms and levees, culvert sizing, green stormwater, solar and battery backup, energy efficiency, watershed restoration, tree planting, and coastal/riparian projects within RIIB’s portfolio.
Requirements
Municipalities must match Action Grants (commonly 25% local cost share), demonstrate alignment with the workshop process, and meet credit and program requirements for awarded projects.
Program outcomes: connect community issues to climate and natural hazards; understand future risks; map vulnerabilities and strengths; explore nature-based solutions; prioritize actions and next steps; implement actions and apply for MRP Action Grants. Participating municipalities are organized in cohorts (e.g., 2019–2023+); see current program memos for award rounds such as Fall 2023 and Fall 2024 Action Grant recipient announcements.
Resilient Rhody in practice
View all storiesHow it works
Facilitators are assigned after acceptance. Workshops are delivered and funded by the Bank; municipal staff burden is intentionally low.
Workshop facilitators
MRP facilitators help communities complete a resiliency assessment and plan. Towns and cities receive a lead facilitator, workshop facilitators, and scribes upon acceptance.
Funding delivery
MRP workshops are delivered and funded by the Bank and its selected workshop consultant.
Action grants
Participating municipalities may apply for MRP Action Grants annually. Projects must come from the MRP process, improve resilience, and advance to design, engineering, and/or construction. Grants are not for research-only work.
Additional resources
Client resources / FAQ hubFrequently asked questions
Is this the same as the Resilient Rhody / initiatives page?
MRP is the municipal workshop and grants program. The broader Resilient Rhody strategy and related content may appear on the initiatives hub as well; use this page for MRP process and grant questions.
Related programs
Stormwater Project Accelerator (SPA)
Upfront capital for green stormwater that later may be reimbursed by grants.
Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund
Remediation financing for hazardous substance sites returned to use.
Contact
Program contact
Municipal Resilience Program
For workshop intake, Action Grants, or facilitators, contact RIIB using the information below.
- info@riib.org
- Phone
- (401) 453-4430
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