Today, FEMA will post funding notices for two hazard mitigation grant programs for $1.16 billion.
The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants provide funds to states, local communities, tribes and territories for eligible mitigation activities to strengthen our nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness. These programs fund projects that invest in a more resilient nation, reduce disaster suffering and avoid future disaster costs.
The application period opens on Sept. 30 and the funding notices will be available later today on Grants.gov. Eligible applicants must apply for funding using FEMA Grants Outcomes, the agency’s grants management system. Submit applications in FEMA Grants Outcome Portal no later than 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 28, 2022. Applications received by FEMA after this deadline will not be considered for funding.
This year’s BRIC grant amount is $1 billion. BRIC’s guiding principles have been revised to reduce future losses and promote equity, including prioritizing assistance that benefits disadvantaged communities as referenced in line with the administration’s Justice40 Initiative. Scoring criteria for the competitive grant program has been adjusted to incentivize mitigation actions that consider climate change and future conditions, populations impacted and economically disadvantaged rural communities.
The Flood Mitigation Assistance grant amount this year is $160 million. The program will use the Centers for Disease Controls’ Social Vulnerability Index as a selection factor in its competitive scoring process. This means underserved populations will receive more points for projects that benefit their communities.
This follows the Aug. 2 historic announcement of the post-disaster $3.46 billion in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program assistance for hazard mitigation measures across the 59 major disaster declarations issued due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. Nearly $5 billion in new funding opportunities is now available to help communities prepare for extreme weather and climate-related disasters. FEMA’s grant programs can help strengthen our nation’s ability to reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damage.
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant Program
The BRIC Program seeks to categorically shift the federal focus from reactive disaster spending toward research-supported, proactive investment in community resilience so when the hurricane, flood or wildfire comes, communities are better prepared.
In this application cycle, $1 billion is available in BRIC grant funds. View the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) at: Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-21-MT-047-00-99.
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program
The National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 establishes the goal of reducing or eliminating claims under the National Flood Insurance Program through long-term mitigation actions. For the FMA program, the agency’s predetermined funding priorities include flood mitigation planning and efforts for repetitive as well as severe repetitive loss properties.
In this application cycle, $160 million is available in FMA grant funds. View the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) at: Grants.gov Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-21-MT-029-000-99.