American Flood Coalition Announces Iowa Flood Resilient Communities Cohort
AFC’s Iowa Flood Resilient Communities Cohort brings together four communities across the state to improve access to federal funding for flood resilience, strengthen ties between communities and residents, and advance solutions to flooding.
WASHINGTON, DC — December 6, 2023 — The American Flood Coalition today launched the Iowa Flood Resilient Communities Cohort, a group of four communities across the state that will receive support in accessing federal funding for flood projects.
“We are thrilled to work with these communities, as together they prioritize flood resilience projects and prepare for funding,” said AFC Executive Director Melissa Roberts. “By following a co-governance model, where each community is represented by a town staffer and non-governmental partner, we can ensure that projects reflect the interests and needs of community members.”
Funded by the Walton Family Foundation, the cohort will pair local officials with community partners that understand residents’ concerns and priorities, working together to develop flood projects based on community input and navigate opportunities for federal funding. The cohort will create opportunities to engage community members on different projects, while building connections across communities that face flooding.
The cohort will run through October 2024 and include localities that are affected by flooding and need timely support to take advantage of federal funds: Columbus Junction, Dubuque, Manchester, and Muscatine.
Through practical group workshops and individual working sessions with experts on staff, AFC will help cohort participants identify and prioritize flood resilience projects, strengthen those projects by incorporating community input, and understand how federal programs can fund those projects.
AFC, alongside subject matter experts from the Iowa Flood Center, will provide guidance each step of the way.
“Building a resilient future requires strong alliances, and our valued partnership with the American Flood Coalition exemplifies the power of collaboration,” said Iowa Flood Center Director Witold Krajewski. “Together, we share a vision where the impacts of flooding are mitigated through collaboration, innovation, and safeguarding of our local communities.”
Cohort participants will walk away with a roadmap of clear next steps to advance federal grant applications and other actions that build community-driven flood resilience. AFC hopes to create a pipeline of flood resilience projects across Iowa that can be funded beyond this collaboration.
This Cohort is the latest in a string of efforts by the American Flood Coalition in Iowa. AFC also funded and launched an innovative project in Northeast Iowa — a first-of-its-kind project that tests and measures how certain regenerative agriculture practices can reduce flood risk on working lands in the United States.
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About the American Flood Coalition
The American Flood Coalition is a nonpartisan group that brings together cities, elected officials, military leaders, businesses, and civic groups to drive adaptation to higher seas, stronger storms, and more frequent flooding. The Coalition advances solutions that support flood-affected communities and protect our nation’s residents, economy, and military installations. AFC has over 400 members across 22 states, as well as 38 Federal Champions. For more on the organization’s work or how to become a member, visit floodcoalition.org.
