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.
$24M+
Action grants awarded
Published MRP total since 2020; later rounds higher
35
Communities participating
RIIB annual report (of 39 RI municipalities)
25%
Action grant match
Typical local share
CRB
Workshop process
Local knowledge + data
Ready to participate?
Review eligibility and the partnership commitments before you engage the Bank.
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.
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.
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.
Partner City of Newport Challenge: Mitigating stormwater runoff into Almy Pond, one of the most distressed bodies of water in the state. Solution: $180,000 Municipal Resilience Program Action Grant. Results: The City of
Read storyFacilitators are assigned after acceptance. Workshops are delivered and funded by the Bank; municipal staff burden is intentionally low.
MRP facilitators help communities complete a resiliency assessment and plan. Towns and cities receive a lead facilitator, workshop facilitators, and scribes upon acceptance.
See participation requirementsMRP workshops are delivered and funded by the Bank and its selected workshop consultant.
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.
MRP is the municipal workshop and grants program. The broader Resilient Rhody strategy lives under Initiatives; use this page for MRP process and grant questions.
Every city and town in Rhode Island can apply. Neighboring municipalities may also apply together as a regional partnership when that better fits the work. Review the full partnership commitments on the participation requirements page before you engage the Bank.
The workshop brings local knowledge together with climate and hazard data so your community can name top hazards, map vulnerabilities and strengths, and leave with priority projects and next steps. RIIB assigns a lead facilitator, workshop facilitators, and scribes after acceptance. The Bank funds delivery; municipal staff burden is intentionally kept low.
Yes. Action Grant projects must come out of the MRP workshop process. After a successful workshop, municipalities may be designated Resilient Rhody Municipalities and can apply for dedicated Action Grants to move priority work into design, engineering, and/or construction.
Grants support projects that improve climate resilience and advance to design, engineering, and/or construction. Eligible work can include 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 or riparian projects within RIIB’s portfolio. Research-only activities such as studies or unfunded plans are not eligible.
Yes. Municipalities typically provide about a 25% local cost share on Action Grants, and awarded projects must meet credit and program requirements. Exact terms for a given round are spelled out in that year’s RFP and board materials.
Participating municipalities may apply for MRP Action Grants annually when rounds are open. Check the current RFP and board memos under Additional resources on this page for the latest deadlines and award announcements.
MRP is the workshop-to-grant path for municipal resilience priorities. The Stormwater Project Accelerator is a separate capital tool for green stormwater projects that need upfront financing. Many communities use both: MRP to prioritize and grant-fund resilience work, SPA when stormwater construction needs accelerator capital.
Reach out to Anthony Hebert, Business Development Officer, at ahebert@riib.org. If you are ready to review commitments first, start with the participation requirements.
Upfront capital for green stormwater that later may be reimbursed by grants.
Remediation financing for hazardous substance sites returned to use.
Business Development Officer
For more information about the Municipal Resilience Program, please contact:
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