North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein made a stop in New Bern Tuesday to announce more than $850,000 in grants to eight environmental projects across Eastern North Carolina. PRE’s Meredith Radford was there and has this.
Attorney General Josh Stein says the environmental enhancement grants exist to address environmental challenges across the state.
“The impacts of climate change are upon us in real time, and nowhere is that clearer than the eastern part of our state which has suffered from hurricanes, flooding and erosion.”
New Bern is receiving $134,000 to build stormwater infrastructure in the Greater Duffyfield Community, which has been subject to frequent flooding, as part of the city’s resiliency and revitalization project.
Stein says this year, his office prioritized grant applications with an environmental justice component.
“To address the disproportionate burden born by disadvantaged communities, particularly communities of color.”
Stein announced other grants including ones for East Carolina University in Greenville to evaluate stormwater control measures, for the nonprofit Kinston Cares to rehabilitate FEMA flood buyout property, and for Pollocksville to construct wetlands to protect flood-prone properties.
The Environmental Enhancement Grant Program is an agreement between the Attorney General’s Office and Smithfield Foods, which provides $2 million to the state each year that is distributed among environmental projects. Including this year’s grants, Stein says his office has awarded nearly $37 million to 190 projects.
For Public Radio East, I’m Meredith Radford.