$400M+ expected to go to cities and towns for resilience projects this fall
The American Flood Coalition has been closely monitoring the development of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s new Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program — including meeting with FEMA, submitting a public comment letter reflecting member concerns last summer, and sharing developments. Below is the latest update to the program.
So what’s happening?
- FEMA has released a proposed policy framework for its new BRIC grant program and is seeking input by May 11
- This is an important opportunity to shape the foundation of a successful and accessible grant program
- The BRIC program will focus on pre-disaster mitigation and resilient infrastructure — helping communities break away from reliance on post-disaster funding sources
- Most importantly, funding available to states and communities is expected to increase significantly starting in fall 2020. Municipalities should start to identify potential projects to be prepared when the application period opens.
Why you should care: FEMA has estimated that the BRIC program will expand the amount available for pre-disaster projects to between $400 and $600 million annually (depending on disaster expenditures and at the discretion of FEMA). In comparison, the preceding program averaged just $56 million annually from 2009 to 2016.
Disaster aid to help states deal with COVID-19 could result in even more additional funds for the BRIC program. With $45 billion added to the Disaster Relief Fund to deal with the crisis, BRIC’s funding amount could be far greater than expected. This additional funding for resilience is a big step in the right direction to get ahead of flooding and sea level rise with proactive planning and projects.
A breakdown of the program and how to get your comments heard
FEMA’s new BRIC grant program is an exciting opportunity for communities to seek funding for resilience and flood mitigation projects.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
After conducting a series of informational webinars and seeking stakeholder input last year, FEMA has released a proposed policy that lays out the BRIC program’s structure and is inviting public comment.
Summary: The BRIC program will provide grants to states, local governments, tribes, and territories to undertake hazard mitigation projects that reduce the risk of disasters and natural hazards. The guiding principles that FEMA used to develop the program include building capability and capacity at the community level, encouraging innovation, promoting partnerships, enabling large projects, maintaining flexibility, and providing consistency. The program will focus on infrastructure projects and protecting essential community services.
Eligible activities: The program will provide awards for technical assistance, capability and capacity building activities, mitigation projects, and management costs. Eligible activities include executing cost-effective mitigation projects (e.g., property acquisition, structure elevation, flood risk reduction projects, floodplain restoration, green infrastructure projects); developing mitigation priorities and plans; project scoping; establishing, adopting, and enforcing codes and standards; and identifying and implementing hazard-mitigation activities.
Cost-Share: Up to 75% federal / 25% nonfederal, with up to 90% federal funding available for small and impoverished communities.
Need to know:
- Local governments and tribes will be able to apply for BRIC funding through their states and territories. Local governments are considered subapplicants and may submit applications during their state’s open application cycle.
- Applicants are required to have a FEMA-approved state, tribal, or local hazard mitigation plan
What’s next: Public comments are due May 11. Comments should be identified by docket ID FEMA-2019–0018 and may be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal or by mail.
FEMA anticipates that it will release the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) on grants.gov this summer or fall and the grant application period will begin in the fall of 2020. Additional details such as application dates, specific funding amounts, and sample project types will be included in the NOFO.
This post was authored by Victoria Sclafani, Policy Associate, and Annabel Cryan, Coalition Outreach Associate.
