Rhode Island Resilience Technical Assistance Program
Rhode Island’s Resilience Technical Assistance Program (Program) provides policy guidance to municipalities to better adapt to climate change impacts. Overseen by the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning (RIDSP), the program aims to “build community resilience through local regulations” by facilitating consultant-led audits of a locality’s ordinances. RIDSP works with the municipality to hire a consultant, then negotiates the contract and pays the consultant on the municipality’s behalf.
The local ordinance audits target policies relevant to adaptation, including those affecting:
- Land use;
- Open spaces and landscaping,
- Impervious cover;
- Erosion;
- Stormwater; and
- Flooding.
After their review of the relevant policies, the consultant provides the locality with new drafting language and assists with its implementation into the municipality’s regulatory text. RIDSP is involved as the municipality’s partner throughout the process, participating in monthly meetings with the municipality and consultant to ensure local satisfaction.
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In its selection process, RIDSP considers need, previous efforts to address climate change, the project proposal, the municipality’s commitment to the project, and the advancement of social equity. Applications emphasize the importance of helping environmental justice communities and ask the applicant-municipality to identify the disadvantaged communities that would benefit from the Program. |
Related Organizations:
- Rhode Island Division of State Planning
Sectors:
Resource Category:
Resource Types:
- Funding program
- Policy analysis/recommendations
States Affected:
