State lawmakers created the Virginia Shoreline Resiliency Fund in 2016, a revolving loan fund for local governments to help residents and businesses reduce their flood risk. However, they have never approved funding for the program, despite the Virginia Department of Emergency Management identifying flooding as the top hazard for all localities in the state.
An investment in this program would help communities undertake flood mitigation projects tailored to their needs and priorities. On Oct. 7, The Pew Charitable Trusts sent a letter to Governor Ralph Northam, urging him to include funding for this program in his 2020-22 budget request to the General Assembly.