CARE is a multi-state collaborative led by Virginia Tech, University of Delaware, and University of Maryland Eastern Shore dedicated to expanding resilience to weather related hazards in vulnerable coastal communities in the Mid-Atlantic region. The overall goal of the project is to create a collaborative that will better prepare extension educators and related groups to be effective partners in resilience efforts in rural communities where agriculture plays a key role in the local economy and culture. This goal will be accomplished via four main objectives:

1.) Creating an enduring capacity among Extension professionals and rural localities to more effectively engage with resiliency programs and provide guidance on resiliency options for farmers, landowners, and businesses.

2.) Creating a collaborative to develop a strategic plan for identifying needs and building capacity to address climate risks in agricultural communities.

3.) Determining current capacities, challenges, and opportunities for greater impact through a needs and opportunity assessment aimed at Extension educators, locality officials, and resilience professionals.

4.) Developing a more complete understanding of community concerns and goals regarding climate impacts and resilience efforts through a series of community listening sessions aimed at low-income, minority, and agricultural stakeholders.