The
Institute for Public Administration (IPA) at the University of Delaware,
with support from the state Department of Natural Resources and
Environmental Controls Delaware Coastal Programs, launched the Delaware Database for Funding Resilient Communities in spring 2016.
States throughout [the Mid-Atlantic region] should view this effort
in Delaware as a best practice and look for opportunities to form
partnerships and compile resources for resiliency projects that are
specific for their states, officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) said in their winter 2017 resilience report on innovative
strategies to improve community resiliency for the Mid-Atlantic region.
Navigating the abundance of grant programs can be challenging, and
many communities may be unaware of every program available to them,
wrote FEMA in the report. This user-friendly web tool inventories
resources that support resilient community development, including
funding programs for disaster preparedness, disaster recovery,
education, planning, property acquisition, stormwater management, and
storm-proofing projects.
Municipalities in Delaware are vulnerable to storm surges,
noreasters, heavy precipitation events, and sea-level rise. Preparing
for and adapting to these vulnerabilities is an unprecedented planning
and public works challenge for Delawares local governments,
particularly because of the significant financial resources required to
implement adaptation projects and enhance local resiliency.
To address this challenge, the IPA team of associate policy scientist
Philip Barnes and Public Administration Fellows Gemma Tierney, a
masters degree student, and Nikki Golomb, an undergraduate honors
student in the Class of 2017, with support from Delaware Coastal
Programs, conducted an extensive search of financial assistance programs
that fund the implementation of resiliency-building plans and projects
in Delaware and compiled the findings into an accessible and intuitive
online searchable database.
While planning and technical assistance programs were identified and
included, IPAs search prioritized financial assistance programs that
fund the implementation of high-cost activities such as infrastructure
improvements, facility retrofitting, construction, and land acquisition.
After all the financial assistance programs were identified and
assembled, a user-friendly website was designed by Eric Cantrell, CAS
computing operations assistant manager, and Sarah Pragg, IPA policy
specialist, to present the results to the target audience. The team then
marketed the online database to Delawares local government leaders
such as city managers, public works directors, and elected officials.
Online access: The Delaware Database for Funding Resilient Communities can be accessed from any computer, tablet or mobile device.
YouTube tutorial: This three-minute video provides step-by-step instructions for using the search tool.
Provide Input: To keep the database current and relevant to
grant funding, it must be continually updated as new financial
assistance programs emerge and others are retired. Those who want to see
a relevant program added to the Delaware Database for Funding Resilient
Communities or if existing entries require new content or contain
errors can contact the Institute for Public Administration by emailing
resiliency@udel.edu.
The Universitys Institute for Public Administration (IPA), a center
within the School of Public Policy and Administration, addresses the
policy, planning, and management needs of its partners through the
integration of applied research, professional development, and the
education of tomorrows leaders. Visit IPA online.
The Delaware Coastal Programs (DCP) is a cooperative program between
the State of Delaware and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA). The DCP helps manage Delawares federal coastal
zone and balance the use and protection of its resources through the
combined efforts of the Delaware Coastal Management Program and Delaware
National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Originally published in UDaily on January 20, 2017. Article by IPA staff.
