The 2024 RISE Riverine Community Resilience Challenge accelerates innovation by connecting innovators with new resilience-building technologies, products, and services to solve problems that require better solutions.
RISE is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization with a mission to accelerate innovation and business growth by identifying, validating, and scaling solutions to community climate resilience challenges such as flooding and sea level rise. is. RISE accomplishes this by running the Community Resilience Challenge competition and providing funding and other support from Virginia’s Resilience Innovation Fund (RIF), Accelerator, Hub, and Testbed.
Background to the Riverline Community Resilience Challenge
As climate change increases the frequency and intensity of storms, river basin communities are increasingly vulnerable to unique flooding threats that can change lives in an instant.
Hurley, Virginia, August 30, 2021, 7 inches of rain from hurricane debris causes river flooding, tragically claiming one life, destroying 19 homes, and seriously damaging 24 more I have experienced serious damage such as being harmed. Then less than a year later, on July 12, 2022, a similar situation struck Whitewood and Pilgrims in Virginia. No lives were lost in this latter event, but the storm destroyed 21 of his homes and damaged 25 others.
FEMA provided no assistance to individual homeowners in either case, and only a small number of affected residents received insurance payments.
The dangers posed by such events are multifaceted, including heavy rain, strong winds, high water flow, and landslides. These natural forces can cause significant damage to buildings, leading to destruction, injury, and death. Additionally, large amounts of debris are often generated, which is expensive and time-consuming to collect and remove, further increasing the challenges faced by affected communities.
Why participate in the Riverine Community Resilience Challenge?
Total funding of up to US$1 million is available to support solutions that meet this challenge. Applicants can apply for up to $300,000 in non-equity financing. Corporate teams can submit integrated solutions and receive up to USD 750,000.
Since 2018, RISE has committed over US$7 million in non-equity financing and services. Resilience Innovation Fund We will join 35 companies developing scalable solutions that create substantial new value and can be demonstrated in Virginia and incorporated into sustainable ventures. RIF is seeded with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the State of Virginia.
RISE will also accelerate the growth of companies developing innovative solutions to climate resilience challenges.of Resilience Innovation Accelerator works with RISE Community Resilience Challenge winners to help businesses maximize impact and become sustainable after RISE funding. Accelerator offers his two-month program tailored to the field of resilience, based on the National Science Foundation’s I-Corps technology.
In addition, RISE brokers access for businesses to resources in Virginia. Resilience Innovation Hub and Testbed To validate or demonstrate innovations that build resilience. RISE provides easy access to a physical pilot site and permit, coworking office and workshop space in Norfolk, VA, data and key stakeholders, a community of resilient entrepreneurs, PR opportunities, and regulatory technical assistance. Masu.
In addition to the benefits listed above, businesses also benefit from:
- Regulatory and permitting assistance
- Access to real-world datasets
- Access to established resilience communities
- PR support and media exposure
- Strategic collaboration with experts and stakeholders
Flood event early warning
challenge: River flooding is becoming more severe and frequent. Accurate and timely warnings are necessary to protect communities.
potential solution: Identification of flood-affected areas 12 hours before a pluvial flood event. Continuously updated throughout the course of rainfall activity. Generation of flood event warnings and development of warning generation protocols. Incorporate communications infrastructure to ensure messages/data is routed to the necessary personnel. Protocols for actions on messages for all constituents (emergency managers, rescuers, first responders, etc.).
Adaptation of landscape and architecture
challenge: Significant landscape changes often occur after a flood, affecting the suitability of a particular area for reconstruction. Recognizing this, there is a growing consensus that some land parcels are no longer suitable for conventional architecture. Identifying the most beneficial post-flood uses of these areas is a challenge. These areas could serve as testing grounds for innovative building methods designed to withstand flooding.
Possible Solutions: RISE is exploring the following solutions::
- Consider mitigating buildings and landscapes using new or existing adaptation techniques. Additional mitigations may be considered if the applicant provides comprehensive details of the technology and its benefits. Both rural and more urban environments may be considered.
- Identify the most appropriate and cost-effective building/landscape adaptations for each parcel, including methods or access to methods to perform benefit-cost analysis for all buildings and parcels.
- We provide mitigation measures that can be implemented on your property before and after a disaster.
- Provides a benefit-cost analysis (BCA) for each parcel using the latest terrain and flood event datasets.
- May be implemented using local workers and contractors to support the local business community and workforce.
- Provides analysis and estimates of insurance cost savings enabled by mitigation.
Please see the application guide on our website for more information.
community insurance program
challenge: Many rural homeowners and renters do not have flood insurance. As a result, financial assistance (and other assistance) to these communities after a flood event typically comes from state flood relief funds, allocated through specific budget requests, or from charitable contributions. However, these funds are primarily directed to homeowners, and renters are often left without assistance.
In addition, the area’s median income is low (one reason many area residents do not have flood insurance programs). This topic aims to build sustainable insurance programs that help these populations and others.
potential solution: We are looking for solutions for designing insurance programs that:
- We support households and businesses after an event by shifting risk and ensuring protection against significant losses through insurance and other financial strategies.
- Respond to the needs of residents and businesses at (almost) set times.
- Needs range from food, shelter, and short-term financing to building replacement costs. Part of the challenge is documenting these needs.
- If a parametric program is proposed, payments will be made after clearly describable and measurable flood event levels. Consider approaches other than parametric programs.
- Combined with research findings from the resident community insurance topic area, we quickly provide disbursement funds in a manner that is accessible to all constituents.
- We believe that river flooding is the only danger.
- Sustainable throughout the Southwest Virginia region as defined by LENOWISCO PDC, Cumberland Plateau PDC, Mount Rogers PDC, and New River Regional Commission.
- Supported by a resident recovery program that provides pre- and post-event support and guidance. We provide support and guidance before and after the event through our resident recovery program. The goal of this challenge is to design insurance programs that can work with and support such assistance programs.
Who can apply?
this The challenge is open to all small businesses and non-profit organizations worldwide We work on flood adaptation, mitigation and management solutions. Applicants may also partner with large companies or research institutions, but the project leader must be a small business/non-profit organization. In addition:
- Must be a business entity.
- Companies should be able to deploy solutions in Southwest Virginia either on their own or by hiring local partners.
- The solution must be at the prototype stage or later.
- If you are selected as a finalist, you will be required to submit additional documentation, including technical details of your solution and work plan.
- Finalists must register with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC).
RISE Riverine Community Resilience Challenge Timeline
Applications are now being accepted!
- April 4, 11, 18, 25 — 1pm ET: Weekly informational webinar.
- May 6, 2024 — 2:00 PM ET: Application submission deadline
- May 10, 2024: Warning to finalists
- May 20, 2024: Deadline for submission of additional documents
- June: Announcement of winners
RISE seeks to fund innovative approaches that can be incorporated into viable and sustainable businesses. This refers to companies that generate revenue through the sale of products and/or attract further investment for the growth or development of revenue streams.
Find out all the details about this unique challenge and submit your application today.
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