The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) hosted a historic signing ceremony on October 8, 2018 officially forming the Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Coalition (TBRRC) which is a coalition of local governments working together to develop the regions first Regional Resiliency Plan.

Citrus County along with twenty-three other local governments to date have individually and formally adopted the Memorandum of Understanding creating the new coalition to address sea level rise, climate change and resiliency. Citrus County Commission Chairman, Ron Kitchen is serving a one-year term as Vice-Chair of the TBRPC.

TBRPC Executive Director, Sean Sullivan explained that, “The benefits of this successful regional approach are that this effort creates a stronger voice, accelerates progressive planning and leverages resources. And, by broadening partnerships and cultivating cooperation among our regional governments access to resources and information will be enhanced.”

“Our objective at the regional planning council is to assist local governments with viable opportunities for implementing both adaptation strategies that increase the region’s resilience to sea level rise and climate change to avoid further vulnerabilities,” stated TBRPC Chairperson and Pinellas County Commissioner Janet Long.

The Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Coalition will foster collaboration such as shared sea level rise projections so local governments can better coordinate, develop, and implement appropriate coastal adaptation and implement risk reduction strategies to reduce the drivers of sea level rise and inland flooding with the critical goal of maintaining our region’s wonderful quality of life for generations to come.