Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024
Initial Announcement – Subject to Change
Note that the official FEMA BRIC and FMA NOFO’s have not been posted and the information within this announcement is subject to change based on the posted NOFO.
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 Enhanced 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.
Available Funding
FEMA may provide up to $50 million federal share for a single project under the BRIC and FMA programs. More information on the breakdown of overall program funding will be announced with the official NOFO posting.
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/ Deadlines
- Sub-applicant submits a Notice of Interest (NOI) through the DHSEM Notice of Interest Form .
- 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) **.
- Draft sub-applications are to be completed in FEMA GO. 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.
- More information on deadlines will be announced with the official NOFO posting.
Application Support
DHSEM will be hosting virtual “office hours”, open to anyone interested in applying to BRIC and FMA programs.
Office Hours will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. :
- July 30, 2024
- August 6, 2024
- August 13, 2024
Office Hours Joining Information
- Google Meet Video call link: https://meet.google.com/xfu-fqyx-bmy
- Or dial: (US) +1 361-248-9735 PIN: 386 026 261#
- More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/xfu-fqyx-bmy?pin=7427281682638
More office hours will be offered once the official NOFO is posted.
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 and 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 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.
Contact Information
Please contact the following:
- Matt West by email at matthew.west@state.co.us for any questions related to hazard mitigation plans (including adding jurisdictions)
- Emily Drosselmeyer by email at emily.drosselmeyer@state.co.us with any questions about projects.
Attachments and Links
- Find more information on the FEMA Hazard Mitigation webpage
- FEMA GO information on the FEMA Start Up Guide webpage
** 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 2024 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities.
NOTE: The registration process can take up to four 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.