Be a Solution Builder for Rural Coastal Communities
The Rural Coastal Community Resilience Challenge represents a rare opportunity for game-changing entrepreneurs: The chance to pilot innovative solutions in the living laboratory of coastal Virginia and make a positive impact quickly.
The impact of climate change is being experienced at an accelerated rate, and coastal communities are on the frontlines. In the U.S. alone, more than 45% of the population lives in areas vulnerable to sea-level rise, leaving them at risk of shoreline erosion, flooding, and storms.
While all coastal communities share common environmental hazards, with thousands of miles of shoreline, rural coastal Virginia is uniquely vulnerable to storms and flooding associated with tides and extreme precipitation, which are exacerbated by climate change and sea-level rise.
Exposure to broad rivers and the open waters of the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean intensify coastal erosion, risking private property and public infrastructure. Saltwater intrusion is also a threat to well water quality and to coastal farms and forests. The region’s heavy reliance on septic systems for wastewater disposal presents both economic and public health challenges.
Learn More and How to Apply: https://riseresilience.org/rural-resilience-challenge/
