Don Hardy

Mayor of Kinston, NC

The City of Kinston recognizes the danger of flooding and has taken many steps to protect our citizens and their property. Restoring North Carolina’s streams and wetlands is the best natural guard against flooding and one of many tools in the flood management toolbox. It has been shown to be an effective method to help contain and mitigate flood intensity for surrounding communities. These kinds of preventative measures are essential to the citizens of Kinston.

Mayor Dontario Hardy is currently the Mayor of the City of Kinston and has served since 2017. Mayor Hardy is a proud veteran of the United States Navy. Mayor Hardy is currently serving as a sworn law enforcement officer and has worked at the private, local, county and federal levels of law enforcement for over the past 16 years. Mayor Hardy is currently serving on the North Carolina Global Transpark Authority Board of Directors, North Carolina League of Municipalities Board of Directors, National League of Cities Board of Directors, Chairman of the Small Cities Council at the National League of Cities,  Immediate Past Chairman of the NC Mayors Association, North Carolina Governors Crime Commission, Eastern North Carolina Disaster Recovery and Resiliency Alliance member, President of the Pitt-Greenville Lodge #69 Fraternal Order of Police, National Diversity Committee member at the National Fraternal Order of Police and a host of other boards and committees representing the City of Kinston along with cities, towns, villages and law enforcement officers across the state of North Carolina.

In October 2016, Hurricane Matthew caused over $1.5 billion in damage in eastern North Carolina and caused the worst flooding we have ever seen in the City of Kinston. The relatively flat terrain of eastern North Carolina slowed the fast-moving waters coming from higher elevations, causing a significant increase in both the depth and breadth of the Neuse River. Homes were destroyed, business was interrupted, many lives were upended, and almost 30 were lost. Although Hurricane Matthew’s impact on the City of Kinston was extreme, it is not unique. It was the third major flood in the past 21 years, and one of countless smaller flooding events. In April 2017, the City of Kinston experienced the fourth highest crest for the Neuse River after merely a couple of days of rainfall. In February 2021, floodwaters covered our city for days after a heavy rainfall. Flooding is affecting the Kinston community greatly and as Mayor, I look forward to continue taking all the necessary steps to protect the City of Kinston and its residents.

 

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Which characteristics is your community looking for in funding opportunities?

Disaster declaration
A Presidential Disaster Declaration unlocks a suite of federal programs that assist local governments with disaster recovery. This is a good filter for communities included in recent Disaster Declarations related to flooding.
Nature-based solutions
The program has a strong focus on providing assistance to promote a healthy ecosystem as a critical defense against flooding impacts. Eligible activities may include floodplain restoration, environmental stewardship, projects that use natural features to mitigate erosion, and living shorelines.
Encourages public-private partnerships
The program encourages or requires collaboration between government entities and stakeholders, including the private sector, to fund, develop, or implement projects.
Offers rolling deadlines
The program accepts applications on an ongoing basis with no fixed deadline.

Is your project in the planning, design, or construction phase?

Planning
The gathering of data and information regarding the extent and impacts of flooding. Eligible activities may include data acquisition, risk assessment, and environmental analysis.
Design & scoping
Covers pre-construction activities, such as defining project scope, developing technical designs, and securing funding to prepare for implementation.
Construction & implementation
Involves carrying out flood resilience projects, including building infrastructure and deploying solutions to reduce flood risks.

Are you looking for grants, loans, or technical assistance for your project?

Funding (grants)
A monetary award that does not need to be repaid. Many federal grants are reimbursable, meaning recipients must cover project costs upfront and then request reimbursement from the government.
Financing (loans)
A government-issued loan that must be repaid. These loans typically provide funding upfront, helping communities cover project costs before repayment begins.
Technical assistance
Assistance from the government in the form of services — such as project planning, engineering and design support, data analysis, training, capacity building, or collaboration through a cooperative agreement — instead of direct funding.

Some programs provide extra support for specific project types or communities. Do any of these apply to your project?

Small or rural communities
Programs that set aside funding, offer loan forgiveness, or adjust cost share requirements for communities with smaller populations.
Small or low-cost projects
Programs that offer reduced requirements for smaller projects, such as waived cost-sharing or exemptions from benefit-cost analysis.
Regional or watershed focus
Programs that support projects that take a watershed management approach or address flooding at a regional scale, requiring coordination beyond a single town or community.
Tribal communities
Programs that dedicate resources or adjust cost share requirements specifically for tribal governments or organizations.
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