The Town of Scottsville is a proud partner on CFPF grants, and on prior DCR grants administered by the dam safety and floodplains team. Our community has a tragic history of severe flooding, the dark side of riverine commerce. From our location on the middle James River, halfway between Richmond and Lynchburg, we celebrate the river but also prepare for the worst with careful planning and infrastructure maintenance.

RGGI provides a strong new funding stream to invest in small-town planning and infrastructure. Our current CFPF grant is updating outdated floodplain maps and hydraulic models using the latest survey tools and software. We need to know where the water goes, in order to plan our response. The project cost of $120,000 is a wise investment compared to the loss of life or property during a disaster, but this price was beyond the capacity of our current general fund and tax base. It would have required a local tax increase or, more likely, just taking our chances with obsolete data. RGGI and CFPF funding is a responsible program, and very possibly a life saver. Moreover, the program is administered by a skilled and dedicated team at DCR, who have supported Town staff every step of the way. Not every state and federal office is so fair and effective. 

From the perspective of a small-town office, RGGI appears reasonable, successful, and inspiring as an effective partnership. It should continue.