Princeville, a town steeped in history as one of the first chartered by freed slaves, finds its resilience tested by the elemental force of flooding—yet again. The town, which bears the legacy of being founded as Freedom Hill in 1865, has endured two "100-year" floods within a quarter-century. Mayor Bobbie Jones, standing firm in the face of adversity, orchestrated an inclusive meeting with his constituents, drawing communities together to chart a path forward. The strategic planning session, held on a somber rainy evening, sought input on the town's 5-year, 10-year, and 20-year recovery and resilience plans, as noted by Carolina Public Press.

With a population dwindling by nearly half after each flood, the small town of fewer than 1,300 is determined to bounce back. In an effort to rebuild and strengthen their community, the residents have proposed a variety of initiatives ranging from a town clean-up to the establishment of a police department. The ideas, though varied in scope and feasibility, speak to a deeper sense of hope and a desire to elevate Princeville beyond its historic vulnerabilities. Former Commissioner Linda Joyner emphasized the importance of remembering the past while looking to the future, reportedly stating, "If we keep our ancestors in our mind and our children in our view, we'll hit the mark," in a statement obtained by Carolina Public Press.

Financial restrictions, however, are a stark reality for Princeville, a town with a tax base that cannot support its infrastructural needs. It is largely thanks to an $11.2 million FEMA grant and additional state and federal funding that their recovery efforts have found a foothold. The effort to relocate housing and key services to higher ground is paramount to Mayor Jones's vision of a self-sufficient community—a vision hamstrung by bureaucratic machinations across the levels of government.

For a town where historic buildings await restoration and museums long shuttered since their flooding by Hurricane Matthew, the arrival of the grant award letter symbolizes a much-anticipated start. With the land purchased, planning completed, and collaboration with UNC Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, the wheels are finally set in motion. As Mayor Jones, a former Marine, pondered the meticulous care needed to navigate government funding, he declared, "When you're working with all those types of governments and you're talking about grant funding, you make sure all the i's are dotted and all the t's are crossed," as he told Carolina Public Press. "Because, if not, they'll request a refund, and we don't have the resources to refund what we don't have yet."