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BRIC and FMA Programs

Posted October 19, 2023

Overview

Colorado communities once again have the opportunity to reduce their long-term risks from natural hazards with assistance from FEMA’s two annual competitive Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs:

  • Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
  • Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)

These programs help elected officials, public works agencies, capital improvement staffs, and other local officials to implement mitigation projects that can dramatically reduce the impacts of a future natural disaster. This opportunity provides funding for communities to implement mitigation activities that reduce risk to life, property, and infrastructure from natural hazards. In Colorado, natural hazards include wildfire, flooding, drought, winter storms, extreme heat, and other hazards identified in the State Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The priorities of these two programs include but are not limited to enhancing climate resilience and adaption, incorporating nature-based solutions, promoting equity, and incentivizing natural hazard risk reduction activities.

DHSEM encourages reviewing the BRIC NOFO or the FMA NOFO before applying, as it provides detailed program information and other grant application and administration requirements.

Available Funding

The State of Colorado has been allocated $2 million under BRIC and has the opportunity to submit nationally competitive projects within the BRIC & FMA programs. BRIC will fund up to $50 million federal share for a single project and FMA will fund up to $50 million federal share for a single localized flood risk reduction project.

State Allocation Breakdown

New: Building code plus-up funds are an additional fund category that may be applied to building code activities only. Activities under this category should enable the adoption and enforcement of codes that reduce risk, enhance current codes or provide training relating to building codes.

State Building Code Plus-Up

  • $2,000,000.00 Building code adoption and enforcement activities

Cost Share

A cost share is required for all sub-applications funded under these programs. Projects require a 25 percent non-federal cost share although some communities may qualify for a lower percentage. The non-federal cost share may consist of cash, in-kind, donated services, materials or any combination. FEMA will provide 100 percent federal funding for grant management costs in addition to the federal obligation of the project.

Application Process and Deadlines

  1. Sub-applicant submits a Notice of Interest (NOI) at this link: DHSEM Notice of Interest Form
  2. DHSEM will review the NOI and conduct a scoping call with the sub-applicant; eligible sub-applicants must then submit a project application through FEMA Grants Outcome (FEMA GO). 
    1. Registering and applying for an award under FEMA GO portal is a multi-step process and requires time to complete. Sub-applicants should read the registration instructions carefully and prepare the information requested before beginning the registration process provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) FY 2023 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities.
      NOTE: The registration process can take up to 4 weeks to complete. To ensure a project application meets the deadline, sub-applicants are advised to start the required steps well in advance of their submission.
  3. DHSEM will review sub-applications for, and are required to meet, project eligibility, application completeness, Benefit Cost Analysis (BCA), engineering feasibility, mitigation plan status, and Environmental and Historic Preservation Review eligibility.
  4. Draft sub-applications are to be completed in FEMA GO by December 22, 2023 to allow time for any requests for information to be completed.
  5. Final sub-applications are due to FEMA GO by February 13, 2024. DHSEM will not accept sub-applications for BRIC and FMA after that date and any incomplete applications will be considered late and will not be submitted for funding consideration after this date.
  6. DHSEM will convene an interagency panel to score and rank BRIC and FMA projects the week of February 12, 2024.
  7. DHSEM will submit the state's consolidated BRIC and FMA applications to FEMA before February 29, 2024 at 1 p.m. MT.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for HMA funding, FEMA requires all sub-applicants to have a current FEMA approved Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) by the application deadline and at the time of obligated funding. Communities that are not in an HMP may find a project sponsor who is or they may ask to be added to the appropriate HMP by following DHSEM’s methodology (available on request).
Eligible sub-applicants include:

  • State Agencies
  • Local Governments
  • Tribal Governments & Communities
  • Special Districts

Evaluation Criteria

Applications submitted will undergo a state and federal review. Communities are strongly encouraged to review the qualitative and technical criteria for both programs. DHSEM and other state agencies that form the State Hazard Mitigation Team will score and prioritize all applications using the attached Colorado Resiliency Framework Criteria and either the BRIC or FMA program criteria as appropriate. Applications will also be scored on the identified hazard and its ranking in the State Hazard Mitigation Plan and appropriate Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. You may also view our September 7, 2022 webinar

New: The technical criteria for the national competition have been updated to reflect the variety of building codes local communities enforce and de-emphasizes the Statewide building codes as a criterion. See section E1a (ii) of the NOFO for more information.

Contact Information

DHSEM’s Mitigation Section is committed to helping the people and communities of Colorado identify and reduce risk from natural hazards. Please contact Irene Merrifield at irene.merrifield@state.co.us for any questions related to hazard mitigation plans (including adding jurisdictions) and Emily Drosselmeyer at emily.drosselmeyer@state.co.us with any questions about projects.
 

Colorado Resources

More information is available on the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance webpage

FEMA Resources