How can municipalities access planning grants and technical assistance?

There are a variety of federal, state, and local funding programs offering funding for planning activities, project scoping activities, and technical assistance for municipalities.

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants

1. Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (“BRIC”)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) manages the BRIC program. The BRIC program is administered by state governments. BRIC provides non-financial Direct Technical Assistance (“DTA”) and funding for Capability- and Capacity-Building (“C&CB”) activities, including for project scoping, mitigation planning, and planning-related activities, among others.

BRIC funding for C&CB activities is available as an allocation to each state and territory. In fiscal year (“FY”) 2021, the maximum allocation for a state or territory for these activities was $1,000,000.[1] The Notice of Funding Opportunity (“NOFO”) for FY2022 is expected to be released in August 2022 and may include an increase in funding for these activities. States set priorities and maintain discretion over the types of projects they submit to FEMA under this allocation. If a municipality wishes to submit a project for funding under the C&CB category, they are encouraged to contact their State Hazard Mitigation Officer (“SHMO”) to discuss if and how their project fits into the state’s strategy for use of these limited funds.

The BRIC Direct Technical Assistance opportunity is very limited. FEMA will provide non-financial Direct Technical Assistance for up to 20 selected communities across the country.[2] The goal of this technical assistance is to help improve the community’s resilience, identify viable mitigation projects, prepare mitigation applications, or implement projects. FEMA may prioritize Direct Technical Assistance for communities that: 

• Did not receive a project subaward under BRIC, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (“PDM”) program, Flood Mitigation Assistance (“FMA”), or the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (“HMGP”) within the past 5 years;
• Did not receive an Advance Assistance or C&CB subaward under BRIC, PDM, FMA, or HMGP within the past 5 years;[3]
• Are tribal entities;
• Are designated as economically disadvantaged rural communities (documentation to support this designation must be included with the letter of interest) or a disadvantaged community as defined by Executive Order 14008, Tacking the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, including tribal nations; or
• Demonstrate a compelling need (e.g., communities with significant disadvantaged populations, communities with multiple major disaster declarations within the past 5 years, etc.).[4]

If a municipality is interested in Direct Technical Assistance, they should contact their SHMO as soon as possible. Unlike C&CB and project activities, a sub-application is not required for Direct Technical Assistance, but an interested community must submit a letter of interest to their SHMO.

The application period for FY2022 is expected to open in late September 2022.[5]

For more information, municipalities may reference the BRIC NOFO for FY2021.[6]

2. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (“HMGP”)

The HMPG is also managed by FEMA and administered by state governments. HMGP funding becomes available to states and territories when authorized under a Presidential major disaster declaration. States prioritize certain goals and funding timelines for HMGP funding. Municipalities can submit sub-applications for mitigation planning, planning-related activities, and project scoping activities under HMGP.[7] As with BRIC, states have discretion over if and how this funding category is used. Municipalities interested in funding for project scoping or planning activities should contact their SHMO to understand if this opportunity is available and if there are any project ideas that align with state prioritization and funding goals. As part of mitigation planning activities, HMGP may be used to fund the creation of a hazard mitigation plan, which is required to receive funding for any hazard mitigation project through BRIC, HMGP, and FMA.[8]

3. Flood Mitigation Assistance (“FMA”)

As is the case with the BRIC and HMGP programs, FMA is a FEMA-managed, state-administered program. This program specifically aims to reduce or eliminate repetitive flood damage to National Flood Insurance Program (“NFIP”) properties and communities. The planning dollars available through FMA are limited to $100,000 per state or territory and $25,000 for local flood mitigation plans. These funds can only be used for the creation of or updates to flood mitigation plans or flood-related sections of local mitigation plans.

Other Planning and Technical Assistance Grants

The following grants are available through the Department of Commerce (“DOC”) and support regional planning and local technical assistance. This list is non-exhaustive, as local agencies of commerce may have their own planning and technical assistance grants available to municipalities within their state. Although each location-specific opportunity below is administered by DOC, each grant awards funds to eligible recipients for the creation and implementation of regional economic development plans, designed to build capacity and guide the economic prosperity and resilience of an area or region. This program also supports feasibility studies, impact analyses, disaster resilience plans, and project planning. The award ceiling for each of the locations below is $300,000. Further, the following applications are accepted on a continuing basis and processed upon receipt. This Planning and Local Technical Assistance opportunity will remain in effect until superseded by a future announcement.

• Philadelphia FY2021 – FY2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
• Seattle FY2021 – FY2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
• Chicago FY2021 – FY2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
• Denver FY2021 – FY2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
• Austin FY2021 – FY2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance
• Atlanta FY2021 – FY2023 EDA Planning and Local Technical Assistance[9]

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“IIJA”) Funding Sources

Several of the funding sources in the IIJA can be used to help a municipality become more resilient.  To benefit from IIJA funding opportunities, municipalities must match their identified needs to potential funding streams.

1. Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-Saving Transportation (“PROTECT”) Grants - $8.7 billion

The PROTECT formula program will support planning, resilience improvements, community resilience and evacuation routes, and at-risk coastal infrastructure from natural disasters. There is a total of $7.3 billion available in formula funding through states for planning and $1.4 billion available in competitive grants. The PROTECT program requires communities to engage in comprehensive, cross-department planning.[10] Many of the programs contained in the IIJA support national objectives such as safety, climate mitigation, and equity.[11] Projects in the PROTECT program will be well-served by considering ways to promote equity for all.[12] Guidance for the PROTECT program has not yet been issued. More program information is needed to determine the funding cap per applicant and the application opening date.

2. Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program - $1 billion

The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program will restore community connectivity by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating effects of highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity, including mobility, access, or economic development.¹⁰ The Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program is a discretionary grant program that “can support planning, capital construction, and technical assistance.”[13] Eligible facilities include those that create a barrier to mobility, access, or economic development as it relates to transportation.[14] Applications must be submitted by October 13, 2022.[15]  

Last Updated: July 5, 2022