Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant Program
MA State Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) BRIC FY23_FINAL
Submit a Mitigation Statement of Interest (for Construction Projects)
Submit a Mitigation Statement of Interest (for C&CB/Planning)
BRIC & FMA Technical Assistance and Webinars/Briefings
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program, also called BRIC, is an annual FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant funded by FEMA and administered through a partnership with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). MEMA has the authority and responsibility for the collection and review of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program subapplications, recommending technically feasible and cost effective subapplications to FEMA and providing pass-thru funding for FEMA approved and awarded project grants to eligible subapplicants.
FY 2023 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program - $1 Billion available nationwide. The priorities for the program are to incentivize natural hazard risk reduction activities that mitigate risk to public infrastructure and disadvantaged communities; mitigate risk to one or more community lifelines; incorporate nature-based solutions; enhance climate resilience and adaptation; and to increase funding to applicants that facilitate the adoption and enforcement of the latest published editions of building codes. BRIC encourages mitigation projects that meet multiple program priorities.
Eligible Subapplicants include:
- State Agencies
- Local Governments/Communities
- Federally-recognized Native American Tribal Governments
Individuals and businesses are not eligible to apply for HMA funds; however, an eligible Applicant or subapplicant may apply for funding on behalf of individuals and businesses.
Eligible Project Activities
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program aims to support proactive investment in community resilience and risk reduction from natural hazards. FEMA anticipates BRIC funding projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to partnerships, focus on infrastructure projects and Community Lifelines, and invest in project scoping and building capacity. More details are published in MEMA’s NOFO.
BRIC Funding
As appropriated by the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2019 (Pub. L. No. 116-6); Section 203(i) of the Stafford Act, as amended (Pub. L. No. 93-288) (42 U.S.C. § 5133), the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant Program provides resources to assist states, tribal governments, territories and local communities in their efforts to implement a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation program, as authorized by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended (Pub. L. No. 93-288) (42 U.S.C. § 5133) as implemented by Hazard Mitigation Assistance: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (FP:104-008-05).
Applicants and Subapplicants must have a FEMA approved mitigation plan as of the application deadline in order to apply for mitigation projects in accordance with Title 44 CFR Part 201. BRIC projects must be cost-effective, technically feasible, effective, and environmentally permittable. Eligible subapplications are awarded on a nationally competitive basis. Federal funding up to $50M is available at a 75 percent cost share per eligible activity. All HMA project grant applications require a completed Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) to be submitted with the application for funding, unless project qualifies for BCA Waiver (pre-calculated benefits).
FEMA is including new provisions to implement the Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act, a new law which aims to direct public and private resilience investments in communities that are most vulnerable to natural hazards.
FEMA acknowledges the adoption and enforcement of building codes, specifications, and/or standards as an important mitigation activity that provides significant resilience benefits. Therefore, BRIC has dedicated additional funds through a State/Territory and Tribal Building Codes Plus Up for FY 2023 to carry out eligible building code adoption and enforcement activities. See below for FY23 BRIC C&CB Building Code Activities (FEMA Program Support Material).
More general information on the FEMA BRIC program can be found at the following website: https://www.fema.gov/bric .
FY 2023 BRIC Application Start Date: 10/16/2023.
FY 2023 BRIC STATE subapplication deadline: 1/8/2024 (note: this is the deadline for subapplicants to submit to MEMA, which is different than the FEMA deadline).
Additional Resources
Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program
MA State Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) FMA FY23_FINAL
Submit a Mitigation Statement of Interest (for FMA Construction Projects)
Submit a Mitigation Statement of Interest (for FMA Scoping/Planning)
BRIC & FMA Technical Assistance and Webinars/Briefings
The goal of the FMA (Flood Mitigation Assistance) grant program is to employ cost-effective measures to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to buildings, manufactured homes, and other structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Federal funding for this nationally-competitive grant program is generally an annual allocation (subject to Congressional appropriation). Applications for this grant program must be submitted through the FEMA Grant Outcome (FEMA GO) system. All HMA project grant applications require a completed Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) to be submitted with the application for funding, unless project qualifies for BCA Waiver (pre-calculated benefits).
FY 2023 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program - $800 Million available nationwide. This includes $60 million total for C&CB Scoping/Planning, $520 million total for Localized Flood Risk Reduction Projects (previously Community Flood Mitigation Projects) and $220 million total for individual projects. The priorities for this program are to incentivize investments that reduce risk and increase pre-disaster mitigation, including expanding the use of insurance to manage risk through funding flood mitigation projects for properties insured through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).
Individuals and businesses are not eligible to apply for HMA funds; however, an eligible Applicant or subapplicant may apply for funding on behalf of individuals and businesses.
FY 2023 FMA Application Start Date: 10/16/2023.
FY 2023 FMA STATE subapplication deadline: 1/8/2024 (note: this is the deadline for subapplicants to submit to MEMA, which is different than the FEMA deadline).