As the grid rapidly shifts toward decentralized, grid‑edge solutions, this session shows how two EPRI projects, ARCHER and REEMERGING, together enable utility‑scale expansible microgrids that embody the conference’s focus on flexibility, resilience, and energy independence. Building on ARCHER’s community‑driven resilience planning and REEMERGING’s advanced methods for early microgrid screening and DER integration, we’ll reveal how utilities can link existing and new resources into dynamic microgrid islands capable of supporting critical loads during extreme events. Attendees will learn practical strategies for avoiding late‑stage design failures, enhancing operational agility, and accelerating real‑world deployment of fractionalized energy systems that strengthen both communities and the grid.