Grants

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Dare County's Grants & Waterways Office is responsible for identifying and applying for grants from federal, state and other sources in order to fund various projects within Dare County.

FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding to local governments so they can rebuild in a way that reduces or mitigates future disaster losses in the community. Residents who are interested in elevating their homes are encouraged to contact the Grants & Waterways Office, which maintains a database to ensure the County is aware of existing needs during future grant application cycles.

For more information on the types of hazard mitigation grants that are available, visit the North Carolina Department of Public Safety or FEMA.

For those eligible, the Albemarle Commission is accepting applications for the 2026 Urgent Repair Program (URP). Visit https://albemarlecommission.org/community-development/ for more information.

The North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA) offers grants to eligible policyholders for roof replacement with an IBHS FORTIFIED Roof. Dare County does not administer or provide this grant, please contact NCIUA or see the following links to determine eligibility.

https://www.strengthenyourroof.com/Home/Policyholders

https://strengthenyourcoastalroof.com/

For more information about grants that Dare County has recently received, see the information below.

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant

In August 2021, Dare County received a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant of more than $6 million to improve disaster resilience by elevating 27 flood-prone homes throughout the county. This FEMA funding became available as a result of Hurricane Florence.

The homes raised with this grant are located in Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Manteo, Manns Harbor, Stumpy Point and Wanchese, as well as Rodanthe, Avon, Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village.

In December 2023, Dare County received more than $5 million for the elevation of 31 homes as a result of Hurricane Dorian. These houses are located in various areas throughout Dare County, including Kitty Hawk, Manteo, Wanchese, Stumpy Point, Manns Harbor, Avon, Buxton, Frisco, and Hatteras.

In May 2025, Dare County received $415,333 for the installation of emergency generators at 5 critical facilities.

Disaster Relief & Mitigation Fund

FEMA FMA Grant - Stormwater Master Plan

Dare County received a $150,000 FEMA Flood Mitigation Assistance grant to update the county’s Stormwater Master Plan. This master plan serves as an outline of our stormwater management policies in unincorporated Dare County and allows the county to evaluate drainage issues and develop a capital improvement plan to address stormwater issues. The grant also provided the funding needed to identify and map the county’s stormwater infrastructure, and to have an engineer develop two project designs for critical areas.

The County has selected the engineering firm of WithersRavenel to update the Stormwater Master Plan.

Report linked below. Due to file size, please contact Barton Grover, Grants & Waterways Administrator at barton.grover@darenc.gov for appendices.

Dare County Stormwater Master Plan

Resilient Coastal Communities Program

In March 2021, Dare County was one of 25 coastal communities that received a grant from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management. This financial assistance from the state was used by the county to perform a risk and vulnerability assessment of Hatteras Island—as well as to develop a portfolio of planned and prioritized projects.

Dare County used a portion of this grant money to develop and disseminate the “Dare County Resilient Coastal Communities Program Questionnaire,” which was sent out in November 2021. Residents of Hatteras Island were encouraged to use this survey to share their input and insight on this questionnaire, and more than 1,100 responses were received. The results that were gathered will be used to help identify, design and implement resilience projects that will address coastal hazards on Hatteras Island such as erosion, flooding and storm surge.

The Final Report from Phase 1 & 2 of the RCCP can be found below.

In July 2022, Dare County was awarded $45,000 in Phase 3 funding for the design and engineering of stormwater improvements in Hatteras Village and Buxton. The proposed project area can be seen on the attached map.

In July 2024, Dare County was awarded $160,000 in Phase 4 funding to construct bioswales in Hatteras Village and $234,000 in Phase 3 funding to cover engineering, surveys, and a drainage study in the Village of Salvo.

In July 2025, Dare County was awarded $95,000 in Phase 3 funding for the design and engineering of a living shoreline at Rodanthe Harbor. Proposed project will address erosion near the Rodanthe Emergency Ferry Channel, Boat Ramp, Emergency Helipad, Confined Disposal Facility, and Recycling Center.

In July 2025, Dare County also received a Phase 1 & 2 Award to complete a risk and vulnerability assessment of unincorporated areas of Dare including Roanoke Island, Dare Mainland, Colington, and Martins Point.

Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund

In 2025, Dare County received a $2 million Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund grant for the 2026 Avon Beach Nourishment Project. The State of North Carolina provides this funding to be used for costs associated with beach nourishment, artificial dunes, and other projects to mitigate or remediate coastal storm damage to the ocean beaches and dune systems of the State.

In 2025, Dare County received a $3.6 million Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund grant for the 2026 Buxton Beach Nourishment Project.

In 2024, Dare County received a $7.5 million Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund grant for the 2027 4-Towns Beach Nourishment Project.

In 2024, Dare County received a $250,000 Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund grant for the Southern Hatteras Island Offshore Sand Assessment Study to identify borrow areas for future beach nourishment projects.

In 2022, Dare County received a $5.5 million Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund grant for the Avon Beach Nourishment Project.

In 2022, Dare County received a $1.5 million Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund grant for the Buxton Beach Nourishment Project.

In 2022, Dare County received a $1 million Coastal Storm Damage Mitigation Fund grant for the Northern Dare County Sand Search to identify borrow areas for future beach nourishment projects.

Golden LEAF Flood Mitigation Program

DCM Planning & Management Grant

Dare County received a $24,000 grant from the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management Planning & Management Grant Program.

The proposed project determined how much sand would be needed to build a beach that provides adequate storm protection to the exposed interests. The County partnered in this effort with a consultant to update results of a 2013 feasibility report presenting similar analysis of beach conditions and options for future nourishment in Rodanthe.

The proposed work consisted of re-establishing control and stations for a systematic survey along the Rodanthe beach. Topographic and bathymetric data will be used to determine the minimum beach volume necessary for 5 years of storm protection along critically eroded areas where private property and/or infrastructure are exposed to wave attack during high water events. This time frame is based upon Dare County’s internal funding models for beach nourishment cycle planning in concert with their ongoing beach management efforts.

This work is preliminary to a more complete analysis and design/permitting effort for future nourishment as part of a 30-year design life project, by documenting historic and projected volumetric losses, anticipated maintenance triggers, and long-term sand needs for critically eroded portions of Rodanthe.

Final Report