FEMA Releases Information for Mitigation Grant Program
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Building Resilient Infrastructures and Communities (BRIC) grant program. The program was authorized through the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018. The main catalyst for passage of the legislation was the BuildStrong Coalition, a group of fire service organizations (including CFSI); insurers; trade associations representing architects, building engineers and contractors; code specialists and other groups committed to building more resilient communities.
Under the BRIC grant program, $500 million is available for Fiscal Year 2020 for states, local communities, tribes and territories to implement pre-disaster mitigation activities. Allocations for grant funding include $33.6 million for states and territories, $20 million for Indian tribal governments, and $446.4 million for national competition. As subapplicants, local governments are eligible to apply through eligible states and territories for BRIC grants. In addition, both applicants and subapplicants can apply for funding on behalf of individuals, businesses, and nonprofit organizations.
One of the key criteria for eligibility is that mitigation projects must, at a minimum, be in conformance with the latest published editions (meaning either of the two most recently published editions) of relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant designs.
FEMA will begin receiving applications on September 30. The deadline for submission is January 29, 2021. Click the button below for a copy of the Notice of Funding Opportunity which describes the application requirements and procedures to obtain grant funding.
