Select Priority Projects
The second step to accessing funding and financing options is to select priority projects from the full list compiled in Step 1.
To identify municipal priorities stakeholders should develop criteria for summarizing and comparing options, for example:
- Project readiness
- Feasibility for implementation
- Project aligns with needs and goals (see Step 1)
- Whether the project achieves multiple benefits, for example, stormwater management, flooding resilience, habitat restoration, and recreation
- Whether the project incorporates green infrastructure and/or nature-based solutions for coastal resilience or stormwater management
- Does the project advance equity goals or provide benefits to residents or neighborhoods disproportionately affected or susceptible to environmental and health impacts
As part of this process, stakeholders will want to consider how to rank each of these criteria in a way that advances their needs and goals. If, for example, a community has a goal to secure an “early win” they would rank projects that are shovel ready and have feasible pathways for implementation as “high” priority. If a community is looking to both address water quality concerns and enhance local recreational opportunities, they would rank projects that include nature-based solutions that achieve multiple benefits as “high” priority. In contrast, projects that serve only one purpose or face several implementation hurdles would rank as lower priority.
This process can also identify any key considerations around staff capacity to implement and administer different funding opportunities and programs (for example, the people, time, and money likely to be associated with both the pursuit of funding or financing and the project’s implementation).
Case Study – Kewaunee, Wisconsin. As part of a funding option evaluation, Kewaunee, Wisconsin, selected two closely related priority projects from their updated Harbor Master Plan. These projects were selected because: (1) they include nature-based storm resilience solutions; (2) address multiple challenges, including stormwater management, habitat restoration, and shoreline rehabilitation; and (3) provide multiple priority benefits, such as recreation and accessibility, and coastal resilience. These projects were also priorities because they offer Kewaunee an opportunity for an early “win” given the high feasibility of completing the projects.
Given Kewaunee’s needs and goals for multiple benefits projects that could be completed in a relatively short timeline, the city did not prioritize other projects in the Harbor Master Plan. For example, a beach improvement project that included replacing turf with native plants and enhanced public recreation features was not selected because of feasibility challenges related to neighboring property owners and rights-of-way. Because Kewaunee’s needs and goals emphasized “project feasibility” this project was not selected as an immediate priority.
This prioritization process will help municipalities focus their funding and financing efforts on the most pressing projects that will provide the highest value to the community. To assist with this project prioritization process, download this customizable Project List & Priority Template. The template includes detailed instructions on how to use this tool to summarize your potential projects, identify your community’s prioritization criteria, and how to rank and weight those criteria as applied to your projects. Questions about the template? Reach out via this form.
Once priority projects are selected, Step 3 is to value multiple benefits. Already know the benefits of your projects? Jump to Step 4 – Select Priority Funding Opportunities to identify best-fit grant options and get easy access to grant resources and application materials.
