Two significant federal developments took place this week. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened a $1 billion funding opportunity for large-scale disaster infrastructure projects, with state applications due July 23. And the new Department of Homeland Security secretary has reversed several of their predecessor’s contract policies.
BRIC Funding
FEMA’s $1 billion funding opportunity will support large-scale infrastructure projects that reduce disaster risk and strengthen community resilience. States can apply for the federal funds under the 2024-25 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program through July 23, 2026. The Georgia Department of Emergency Management will then make those funds available to local governments to fund projects.
The funding is intended for cities and states to take proactive steps to protect their communities from potential disasters like fires, floods, earthquakes and hurricanes, with an emphasis on projects ready for implementation. FEMA has streamlined the application process, eliminated phased projects and shifted greater responsibility to states and local governments. Of the total funding, $757 million will be distributed through a national competition among localities, along with set-asides for states and funding to support building code adoption and enforcement.
Under the Trump Administration, FEMA has seen a renewed focus on infrastructure-related hazard mitigation projects and empowering state and local leaders to implement improvements. This new BRIC funding opportunity is specifically designed to:
- Prioritize infrastructure resilience by funding construction projects that are ready to implement and incentivizing the adoption of the latest hazard-resistant building codes.
- Move money faster by eliminating phased projects, simplifying the National Competition scoring system and removing subapplication scoring by the National Review Panel.
- Shift responsibility and authority to states by removing funding for hazard mitigation planning and non-financial direct technical assistance provisions. The program now maximizes state and local responsibility for resilience and risk reduction rather than federal investing in a wide range of activities.
Who's Eligible and How Much?
Eligible applicants include states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and federally recognized Tribal Nations. Eligible subapplicants include local governments, communities, special districts and Tribal Nations applying through a state or territory.
For the Fiscal Years 2024-25 funding cycle, available funding categories include:
- $757 million for National Competition (up to $20 million federal cost share per subapplication)
- $112 million for states and territories (up to $2 million federal cost share for each applicant)
- $56 million for State or Territory Building Code Plus-Up (up to $1 million federal cost share per applicant)
- $50 million Tribal Set-Aside (up to $2 million federal cost share for each applicant)
- $25 million for Tribal Nation Building Code Plus-Up to carry out eligible building code adoption and enforcement activities
Interested applicants and subapplicants may review the Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov. For more information on the BRIC program, Georgia applicants should contact the FEMA Region 4 Office, visit the BRIC homepage, or contact Federal Relations Manager Molly McLoughlin for more assistance.
GMA will keep cities informed as to when these funds will be available to local communities.
DHS Policy Reversal
Meanwhile, the new Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has rescinded a policy put forth by former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that required personal approval on all contracts and grants across over $100,000. Georgia cities were negatively impacted by this policy, which delayed over 1,000 FEMA contracts aimed at recovery from disasters like Hurricane Helene. Now, only contracts exceeding $25 million will require the secretary’s review.
Under the new secretary, DHS is also pausing the purchase of all new federal immigration detention centers and reviewing all current warehouse contracts signed under the previous secretary. Local infrastructure capacity for waste and water will be contemplated when considering new federal immigration detention centers and the impact on the surrounding community.