Natural Treasures
Resilient Communities Program
We are now accepting applications for the 2026 Resilient Communities program!
About the Program
Resilient Communities is a program of Thrive Regional Partnership and the Open Space Institute that helps cities and towns in the 16-county Chattanooga region develop local strategies to enhance their resilience to weather events like flooding and extreme heat.
Through the program, community teams have access to professional guidance, facilitation, and technical assistance to assess vulnerabilities, identify local priorities, and develop nature-based strategies that leverage local expertise and natural assets to enhance community resilience.
Thanks to funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the Resilient Communities program is offered at no cost to participating communities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
In the Resilient Communities program, a diverse team of local residents engage in a professionally facilitated 10-month planning process, with the opportunity to apply for up to $20,000 for the implementation of catalytic projects.
Core teams collaborate with their communities to identify weather-related hazards, assess the vulnerability of their natural and community assets, and develop strategies using nature-based solutions to improve their community’s resilience.
Organizations that bring people together—such as nonprofits, faith-based groups, libraries, and neighborhood associations—are encouraged to apply. Eligible applicants must be based in the 16-county greater Chattanooga region. Combined applications will be considered.
Community teams should consist of five to ten individuals from various sectors or disciplines, and include at least two impacted residents.
A strong Community Team:
- Includes 5-10 dedicated local community members representing varying sectors or disciplines within the community
- Reflect the interests and diversity of the entire community
- Requires representation of individuals that have personal experience with the impacts of extreme weather (for example, flooding or wildfires)
- Consistently attends all sessions with all team members
- Is citizen-led with engagement from local government and elected officials
The Resilient Communities program is hands-on and lasts for 10 months. The time commitment for team members involved in Resilient Communities is 3-6 hours per month, including activities like conducting one-on-one community interviews, planning and project development, and attending 1-2 meetings each month.
Participants of the Resilient Communities program see many outcomes in their neighborhoods and themselves, including:
- A custom resilience plan for nature-based solutions for weather-related hazards in your community
- An opportunity to receive $20,000 in seed funding to kickstart the first phase of your community plan.
- Leadership development through activities such as environmental risk assessment, community asset mapping, volunteer management, grant writing, and community engagement.
Our Partners Include
Our Partners Include
Project Partners
Thrive Regional Partnership (Thrive) inspires responsible growth through conversation, connection, and collaboration across northeast Alabama, northwest Georgia, and southeast Tennessee. Thrive co-designed the Resilient Communities program and provides program management and communications.
Open Space Institute (OSI) is a national conservation leader that protects land for clean air and water, access to recreation, wildlife habitat, healthy communities, and climate change. OSI co-designed the Resilient Communities program and provides expertise on conservation science and GIS analysis to participating communities.
The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) funds the Resilient Communities program through ARISE, a multi-state initiative that aims to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation through collaborative projects.
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