Event Description

The conference will highlight how businesses and communities can work together to:

• Grow investments that support a low-carbon economy;
• Provide examples from urban and rural communities on approaches to resiliency that include climate risk assessments that lead to economic, health, and equity considerations; and
• Increase resilience in the face of disruption from extreme weather disasters and on-going climate concerns that impact community health and vitality.

The conference will also address the significant catalyst, provided by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), that is bringing business and workforce development to communities while providing extensive investments in the resilience of infrastructure and clean energy systems.

The 2023 Resilient Virginia Conference brings together participants from federal, state, and local governments; local and national businesses; representatives from higher education; and community organizations to learn about a diverse array of resiliency topics.

Participants in the 2023 Conference will:

• Learn about federal programs that are distributing IIJA and IRA funds, as well as state-level funding initiatives;
• Discover business development options ranging from new climate entrepreneurships to growing demand for climate-resilient infrastructure and energy sources;
• Gain insights on resilience policy progress in Virginia and across the region;
• Compare local Climate Action Plans and Climate Resiliency Plans in Virginia jurisdictions and in neighboring states;
• Engage in networking with resiliency businesses, government representatives, and institutional and community organizations; and
• Take away tools for resiliency planning that help communities deal with increased hazards while addressing equity considerations for vulnerable citizens.