HAMPTON, Va. — A 2021 study by Yale University found that more Americans than ever are worried about climate change. Now, the City of Hampton is taking action, finding ways to become more resilient and better support its residents in times of crisis.
Mayor Donnie Tuck recently announced Hampton was chosen to be part of Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities. The initiative will boost the city's efforts to create environmentally forward communities.
Hampton Director of Community Development Bonnie Brown said the city will receive a three-person innovations team, funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies. Brown said the staffing process is expected to begin this spring and the team could start as early as May.
Brown also anticipates receiving assistance when applying for federal grants to address climate change and infrastructure needs.
"Hampton has more households in severe flood and hurricane zones than like 98 percent of other Virginia localities," Brown said. "I think we're uniquely suited geographically, and also historically to benefit from a grant like this."
Hampton plans to work with the innovations teams to develop an action plan that could include flood mitigation and prevention, emergency management, energy resilience, workforce housing, infrastructure, adaptation and other sustainability solutions.
Then, the city will test out the plan and engage community members in three selected pilot areas, targeting neighborhoods that are historically Black or prone to severe weather impacts.
Brown hopes the final phase of the plan will be wider implementation with federal grant funding.
"Our hope is to create a replicable, scalable plan that we could apply to other places in the city, other communities, or potentially, even a citywide sustainability plan, and really use it to develop other initiatives outside the pilot areas," Brown said.
According to a 2021 analysis from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, climate issues like severe weather events and sea level rise can hit disadvantaged communities harder than others. Hampton Interim Assistant City Manager Hui-Shan Walker said the Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities program will progress the city's efforts to improve the quality of life and racial equity for residents.
"[We are] really trying to engage them and get their input and buy-in to kind of, how can we develop plans and programs to better serve our underserved communities?", Walker said. "How do we, you know, bring them all to the table and have the discussions and develop plans, and then implement them?"
Hampton is one of 25 cities set to receive funding and support through Bloomberg Philanthropies. The American Sustainable Cities initiative will last for three years.