Attached is an informational bulletin announcing fund availability for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s 2021 Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Funding Opportunity – FY2021 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) & Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA). A total of $1.16 Billion is available under these nationally competitive matching grant. Extensive program details can be found in FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Unified Guidance document (although this document is labeled “Fiscal Year 2015” guidance, it is the current version of the program guidance).
BRIC and FMA funds can be used for the implementation of hazard mitigation projects as well as the development or update of local hazard mitigation plans. Some examples of eligible mitigation project activities include:
- Project scoping/ advance assistance to develop future quality hazard mitigation projects and applicants.
- Voluntary acquisition or elevation of flood-prone residential and non-residential structures.
- Stormwater management projects that reduce flood risk,
- Protective measures for utility infrastructure,
- Construction of tornado safe rooms,
- Retrofit of structures for wind protection,
- Development of a community all-hazards mitigation plan (or update of an existing hazard mitigation plan).
Projects must be cost beneficial for eligibility, meaning the anticipated cost savings from avoided future damages must outweigh the cost of implementing the project. Commonly requested activities that are not eligible for this funding include:
- Training,
- Preparedness actions,
- Generators (except for cost-effective generators that serve hospitals, police stations, fire stations, water, and wastewater treatment plants).
Examples of completed hazard mitigation projects can be found in FEMA’s HMA Mitigation Action Portfolio.
Deadlines
- NOI forms must be submitted to the MSP/EMHSD by no later than October 1, 2021.
- Applications are due to the MSP/EMHSD for review by November 29, 2021.