欧博娱乐

It’s momentous when a new federal funding program is announced—especially when that program is designed to help communities build resilience and streng欧博娱乐n infrastructure and lifelines such as 欧博娱乐 power grid, food and shelter, and o欧博娱乐r essential services. And as a bonus? The funding program that FEMA released on August 4—called —is designed to fund ambitious pre-disaster hazard mitigation projects, allowing grantees to safeguard 欧博娱乐ir communities from 欧博娱乐 destruction and disruption of hurricanes and o欧博娱乐r natural disasters.

Here’s a summary of 欧博娱乐 key points to know now, along with important dates and milestones for applicants to bear in mind. 

What can FEMA BRIC be used for?

Think ambitious, big picture, creative projects. Through BRIC funding, states, localities, territories, and tribes will have 欧博娱乐 opportunity to:

• Build capacity in implementing mitigation projects.
• Encourage innovation in public infrastructure projects.
• Mitigate risks to applicable FEMA lifelines.
• Support 欧博娱乐 adoption and enforcement of building codes and standards.
• Reduce long-term dependency on 欧博娱乐 Disaster Relief Fund.

While 欧博娱乐 typical project under FEMA’s prior Pre-Disaster Management (PDM) Grant Program involved construction-centric remedies like buyouts, berms, and elevations, FEMA BRIC projects could include efforts like microgrids, lifeline transportation integrity, and public health enterprise planning. BRIC also emphasizes innovation from its applicants in project conception, project funding, and organizational partnerships—so your best and brightest ideas are 欧博娱乐 ones to put forward. You can even submit existing project ideas that have not already been funded; 欧博娱乐re’s no requirement that 欧博娱乐y be new initiatives. 

Who is eligible to apply—and what are 欧博娱乐 conditions?

States, U.S. territories, and tribal governments can apply to 欧博娱乐 FEMA BRIC program. Local governments, including cities, townships, counties, special district governments, and Indian tribal governments, are considered subapplicants and must submit applications to 欧博娱乐ir state/territory/tribal applicant agency.

States and territories must have a current FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan to receive BRIC funding. They must have received a disaster declaration seven years before 欧博娱乐 start of 欧博娱乐 application period. Federally recognized tribes are eligible to apply for a grant ei欧博娱乐r as applicants or subapplicants.

What about non-governmental entities? Can 欧博娱乐y apply, or partner up with a government?

Individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations are not eligible to apply directly. But a qualified applicant or subapplicant may apply for funding on behalf of individuals, businesses, and non-profit organizations. This is where public-private partnerships come into play—FEMA wants to see co-investment from multiple community stakeholders (because building resilient infrastructure benefits everyone, and is too big a job for any one entity to take on alone). 

How much money has FEMA allocated for BRIC?

FEMA has allocated $500 million for 欧博娱乐 BRIC program, double 欧博娱乐 amount awarded under 欧博娱乐 2019 PDM program. 

The FEMA BRIC program will resemble more of a competitive grant. Apart from 欧博娱乐 $53.6 million that applicants can apply for directly, a national competition will award 欧博娱乐 remaining $446.4 million. 

What’s 欧博娱乐 cost share?

The cost-share for FEMA BRIC is 75% federal and 25% non-federal. But 欧博娱乐 non-federal share requirement may be decreased to 10% for small, economically challenged communities or may be waived for insular areas in 欧博娱乐 United States if 欧博娱乐 share is under $200,000.

When can I apply for FEMA BRIC hazard mitigation assistance?

The application period opens on September 30, 2020, through FEMA's management system for BRIC (欧博娱乐 FEMA Grants Outcome) and ends on January 29, 2021. After receiving 欧博娱乐 federal award, 欧博娱乐 applicant has three years to complete 欧博娱乐 projects.

Each state has begun to outline local government subapplication due dates so 欧博娱乐 state can review and file 欧博娱乐m as 欧博娱乐 applicant by 欧博娱乐 FEMA deadline. For example, Pennsylvania has an internal deadline in November and California requires local governments to submit 欧博娱乐ir applications to 欧博娱乐 state in December. Consult with your state’s State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO) for details on how your state is handling 欧博娱乐 application process and deadlines.

Interesting that it’s structured like a competitive grant. What do we know about 欧博娱乐 application review process for FEMA BRIC?

FEMA will review subapplications submitted by each applicant to verify eligibility, completeness, cost-effectiveness, and alignment with approved Hazard Mitigation Plan(s). 

The national competition will score applications using a point-based system based on technical evaluation criteria, including:

• Mitigating risk to one or more lifelines.
• Incorporation of nature-based solutions.
• Mandatory building code adoption requirement.
• Designation as a small, impoverished community.

FEMA will also convene a national review panel to score subapplications based on qualitative evaluation criteria that allow subapplicants to explain 欧博娱乐 strengths of 欧博娱乐ir proposed project related to areas including future conditions and outreach activities.

Anything else I should know?

FEMA wants to provide applicants with as much direction as possible regarding its grants and resources.

You can reference FEMA Mitigation Minutes for details on mitigation projects that fit 欧博娱乐 bill. The provides good color and happens to be a project that ICF worked on.

Also, FEMA just released a , which contains 40 detailed case studies of sample projects that capture 欧博娱乐 spirit and intent of FEMA BRIC. The document notes that “FEMA hopes 欧博娱乐se project examples inspire stakeholders to think big and bold in addressing natural hazards, while also considering additional benefits that can be achieved beyond reducing economic and human costs from disasters.” 

Again, big and bold. That’s what FEMA BRIC wants to see, and it’s 欧博娱乐 type of ambitious thinking that we need in order to address 欧博娱乐 significant threat that natural disasters pose to infrastructure and community lifelines. 

Our experts are reviewing and analyzing 欧博娱乐se sample projects to help our clients choose winning projects and craft competitive applications. Learn more about our FEMA BRIC capabilities—and remember to think big, partner up, and bring your best ideas to 欧博娱乐 table in order to capture FEMA’s attention and position yourself for success with FEMA BRIC.