Norfolk, VA – Building on the success of last year’s Riverine Community Resilience Challenge in Southwest Virginia, RISE Resilience Innovations is expanding its efforts into Northwest Virginia and the Roanoke Valley regions to strengthen disaster preparedness and flood resilience for thousands of vulnerable Virginians.

RISE, a nonprofit dedicated to developing scalable, business-led solutions to the most pressing problems facing flood-prone communities, officially launched the 2025 Riverine Community Resilience Challenge II on March 28, inviting small businesses to propose and pilot innovative flood resilience solutions.

The new Challenge will support entrepreneurial and start-up projects focused on expanding these tools, integrating landscape and building adaptations, supporting business recovery. Applicants can apply for up to $300,000 in non-equity funding.

“Communities across Virginia are facing escalating flood risks that demand innovative and scalable solutions,” said RISE Executive Director Paul Robinson, Ph.D. “By expanding the Challenge’s geographic scope and focus areas, we’re inviting more forward-thinking innovators to develop technologies and strategies that will not only protect Virginians but serve as models for resilience nationwide.”

Five pilot projects from the first Riverine Community Resilience Challenge are currently underway, testing innovative insurance models and early warning systems in Southwest Virginia.

The urgency for expanded flood mitigation efforts has grown following the devastating impact of Hurricane Helene in September 2024 and severe winter flooding in February 2025. Recognizing the increasing threat of extreme weather events, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has allocated additional funding to extend the reach of the RISE Challenge to include Northwest and Southwest Virginia, broadening the effort’s impact.
The 2025 Riverine Community Resilience Challenge II asks for proposals across five topic areas, all aimed at increasing flood preparedness and recovery, including:

Flood Event Early Warning – Enhancing localized flood forecasting and risk assessment to provide accurate and timely evacuation guidance.

Landscape and Building Adaptation – Advancing flood-resilient building materials and mitigation techniques to safeguard properties.

Community Insurance Program – Developing affordable, sustainable insurance models that address the full economic impact of riverine flooding.

Riverine Community Resilience Product Integration – Creating interoperable solutions that combine multiple technologies to maximize resilience benefits.

Business Recovery After a Riverine Flooding Event – Establishing financial support mechanisms to accelerate post-flood economic recovery for businesses.

These topic areas highlight how resilience spans systems, sectors and communities, and RISE is looking for solutions that go beyond single fixes.

“Our new 2025 Challenge is an opportunity for both new applicants and past Challenge participants to refine and scale their flood resilience solutions,” said RISE Deputy Executive Director Betsy Hnath. “By focusing on integration and collaboration across disciplines, we aim to drive lasting impact for communities vulnerable to riverine flooding.”

Applications for the 2025 Riverine Community Resilience Challenge II officially opened on March 28. Winners will receive funding, technical assistance, mentorship and access to RISE’s accelerator program to pilot their innovations in real-world environments.
For more information about RISE and the 2025 Riverine Community Challenge II, visit the challenge page.

RISE Launches Second $1 Million Challenge to Tackle Riverine Flooding in Virginia