New from FEMA on infrastructure and resilience programs
In its annual grant cycle, FEMA received another record-setting request for funding through two grant programs that aim to enhance disaster resiliency.
FEMA received 1,657 subapplications from state, local, tribal and territorial governments totaling nearly $8 billion requesting funding through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance programs. In this fiscal cycle FEMA made available a total of $1.8 billion for these two grants, a large portion of which came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
This continues the trend that each year more subapplications are submitted than funding is available.
The available funding highlights the importance of FEMA’s continued commitment to “people first” and helping communities, families and businesses build climate resilience. It also aligns with a FEMA Year of Resilience theme to build capacity to withstand tomorrow’s hazards.
These grant programs are some of the most flexible resilience in the federal government and can be used by communities to better understand disaster risk and vulnerable, conduct community-driven resilience, hazard mitigation planning and design transformational projects.
FEMA announced the annual funding opportunities in October 2023 and the application period closed on Feb. 29, 2024.
BRIC Summary
FEMA received 1,233 BRIC subapplications across all 50 states, 35 Tribal Nations, five territories and the District of Columbia requesting more than $5.6 billion. For this funding cycle, the agency made $1 billion available.
BRIC helps state, local, tribal, and territorial governments address high-level risks to natural disasters such as wildfires, drought, extreme heat, hurricanes, earthquakes and increased flooding to foster greater community resilience and reduce disaster suffering.
Building Codes Plus-Up Summary
BRIC received 133 subapplications totaling more than $52 million for this new set-aside funding opportunity, Building Code Plus-Up. This is the largest amount requested from FEMA for building codes. This demonstrates momentum toward preparing for tomorrow’s disasters through the adoption and enforcement of modern building codes.
Aligning with the Biden-Harris administration’s National Initiative to Advance Building Codes, this opportunity dedicates funding exclusively to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and federally recognized Tribal Nations for building code activities like adoption and enforcement.
Flood Mitigation Assistance Summary
FEMA received 424 subapplications for Flood Mitigation Assistance across all 10 FEMA requesting nearly $2.3 billion from 39 states, American Samoa and two federally recognized tribes. For this funding cycle, the agency made $800 million available while an additional $300 million was offered through the Swift Current funding opportunity.
This year stands to be the most funding historically offered –nearly $1.1 billion — by FEMA through the Flood Mitigation Assistance program. These grants are available to National Flood Insurance Programparticipating communities and address severe and repetitive loss projects.
BRIC Direct Technical Assistance
Additionally, FEMA saw an increase in requests for BRIC Direct Technical Assistance with 164 submissions, 28 of which were from federally recognized Tribal Nations and 136 communities across all 10 regions. These increases represent an oversubscription trend in funding to make communities safer from natural hazards and the effects of climate change.
The agency has already announced a total of 74 communities and Tribal Nations selected from previous grant cycles. FEMA is expecting to make at least 80 more selections from these submissions.
Next Steps
Later this year, FEMA anticipates releasing a more detailed analysis of the subapplications received for the fiscal year 2023 grant cycle.
For more information, visit FEMA.gov.