Hampton

Independent City, Virginia

Hampton is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with a population of over 134,000. It is one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. Hampton is the oldest continuous English-speaking settlement in the United States. Hampton has shaped the history of commerce and national defense, slavery and emancipation, the first free education in America, and human exploration and space flight. Situated in the middle of the Hampton Roads region and the heart of the Mid-Atlantic, Hampton is an event destination welcoming all visitors with charming hospitality, multifaceted attractions and activities, and an atmosphere of discovery.

Hampton experiences rainfall flooding, from heavy and intense storms, tidal flooding, and storm surge from storm systems that essentially push water from the ocean and the bay into rivers and ditches. Adding to the problem, many parts of the city are low-lying with a high groundwater table, giving the water few places to go. Currently, Hampton maintains a storm drainage system with 80 outfall ditches and 196 miles of open ditches.

As concerns about recurrent flooding and sea level rise grow, Hampton is looking for innovative solutions to protect citizens and infrastructure, while also growing as a vibrant coastal community. The city is looking to draw inspiration from the Dutch. The “living with water” approach–also the hallmark of the New Orleans Urban Water Plan–integrates flood risk mitigation, engineering, spatial planning, urban design, environmental goals, community amenities and economic development. Instead of figuring out how to “engineer” the water away, Hampton is committed to figuring out how the city can allow the water to be a part of, and a benefit to, the community.

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Help Me Choose

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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