Vermont Emergency Management (VEM) is soliciting applications under a brand-new grant program through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): Flood Resilient Communities Fund. Projects must reduce future flood risk and must have the co-benefit of improving water quality. Projects that will improve water quality over time are those that: results in greater floodplain storage to reduce flood flows, allows room for future natural river channel changes in ways that don’t threaten property, re-establishes floodplain and riparian vegetation and functions to help hold riverbanks and shade water, and Improves filtration of flood waters.  The focus of this program is flood mitigation work that does not fit under the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants. RPCs, nonprofits, and municipalities are all eligible applicants. The focus of this funding is in two areas:  1) Flood-vulnerable structure and buyout projects: 100% funding will be available for buyouts that are not FEMA-eligible and 2) Natural resource projects: restoring natural floodplain access to improve floodplain function and dam removal projects that have the benefit of reducing flood risk. Applications are now available here. More information is on VEM’s webpage. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the State Hazard Mitigation Officer:Stephanie Smith; 802-989-6793; Email: [email protected].