BRIC Grant: $1 Billion for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities

FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program is one of the largest federal funding opportunities for hazard mitigation, with $1 billion available for FY 2024-2025. The program helps states, local governments, tribal nations, and territories invest in infrastructure projects that reduce risk from natural hazards before disasters strike.

What Is the BRIC Program?

Authorized under Section 203(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, BRIC provides federal funds for pre-disaster hazard mitigation. Unlike post-disaster programs that respond to damage after it happens, BRIC funds proactive investments in infrastructure that can withstand natural hazards such as floods, wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, and drought.

The program is partially funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which appropriates billions to FEMA to promote resilient infrastructure and combat natural hazard threats. BRIC prioritizes infrastructure and construction projects that deliver immediate, measurable risk reduction to vulnerable communities.

Who Can Apply?

BRIC has a two-tier application structure. Understanding the difference between applicants and subapplicants is critical for local governments.

Applicants (Submit Directly to FEMA)

• States
• District of Columbia
• U.S. Territories
• Federally recognized Tribal Nations

Each applicant designates an agency to serve as the applicant for BRIC funding and may submit only one BRIC grant application to FEMA.

Subapplicants (Apply Through Their State or Territory)

• Local governments
• Cities and townships
• Counties
• Special district governments
• Communities
• Tribal Nations (who choose to apply as subapplicants)

Important for local governments: Cities, counties, and townships cannot apply directly to FEMA for BRIC funding. You must submit your subapplication through your state's designated hazard mitigation agency. Contact your State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO) to coordinate your application.

Funding Categories

BRIC funding is distributed across five categories, each with different caps and requirements:

1. State/Territory Allocation ($112 Million)

Each state or territory may apply for up to $2,000,000 for capability- and capacity-building activities directly tied to infrastructure resilience, such as building code adoption and enforcement or hazard mitigation projects. Hazard Mitigation Plan development or updates and project scoping activities not directly supporting infrastructure are not eligible under this category.

2. Tribal Set-Aside ($50 Million)

Dedicated funding for federally recognized Tribal Nations for capability- and capacity-building activities and hazard mitigation projects, with combined costs capped at $2,000,000 federal cost share per applicant.

3. State/Territory Building Code Plus-Up ($56 Million)

Up to $1,000,000 per state or territory for building code adoption and enforcement activities, including evaluating and implementing hazard-resistant codes, enhancing existing codes, and developing professional workforce capabilities. Activities should enable adoption of current or next versions of the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC).

4. Tribal Building Code Plus-Up ($25 Million)

Similar to the state Building Code Plus-Up but dedicated to Tribal Nations for eligible building code adoption and enforcement activities.

5. National Competition ($757 Million)

The largest funding pool. Applicants may submit an unlimited number of hazard mitigation project subapplications, each valued up to $20,000,000 federal share. FEMA will commit to reviewing two times the total value of the National Competition. This is where the most competitive and impactful infrastructure projects are funded.

Eligible Project Types

For this NOFO, "infrastructure" means critical physical structures, facilities, and systems that provide support to a community, its population, and its economy, including natural systems. Eligible project types include:

Hazard Mitigation Projects

Cost-effective infrastructure and construction projects designed to:

• Increase community resilience and public safety
• Reduce injuries, loss of life, and property damage from natural hazards
• Protect critical services, facilities, and infrastructure from floods, wildfires, earthquakes, drought, and other natural disasters

Projects must have at minimum a conceptual design. Phased projects are not eligible.

Capability- and Capacity-Building Activities

Activities that directly support infrastructure resilience, including:

• Building code adoption, enforcement, and implementation
• Related technical training and project scoping for specific infrastructure projects

Management Costs

Financial assistance to reimburse recipients and subrecipients for eligible indirect costs, administrative costs, and other expenses associated with managing hazard mitigation measures. Subapplicants may apply for up to 5% of the total activity budget, and total management costs may not exceed 15% of the total award.

Cost Sharing Requirements

Understanding cost share is essential for budgeting your BRIC application:

• Standard: 75% federal / 25% non-federal
• Small Impoverished Communities: 90% federal / 10% non-federal
• Insular Areas (under $200K): 100% federal / 0% non-federal

The non-federal cost share may consist of cash, donated or third-party in-kind services, materials, or any combination. However, other federal award funds generally cannot be applied toward the BRIC non-federal cost share unless specifically allowed by the other federal statutory authority.

Small Impoverished Communities

Communities meeting the following criteria qualify for the enhanced 90/10 cost share:

• Population of 3,000 or fewer individuals
• Economically disadvantaged, with average per capita annual income not exceeding 80% of the national average

Application Requirements

All applications must be submitted through FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO). Key requirements include:

• Active SAM.gov registration and valid Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)
• FEMA-approved State or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan (in accordance with 44 C.F.R. Part 201)
• For subapplicants: FEMA-approved Local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan by the application deadline
• Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) demonstrating cost-effectiveness for hazard mitigation projects
• Environmental and Historic Preservation (EHP) compliance documentation
• Short bios and resumes for organizational leadership and board members
• Scope of Work with management cost activities identified
• Cost estimate with management costs as a separate line item

How Applications Are Evaluated

BRIC applications go through a multi-step review process:

Threshold Criteria

Applications must meet basic eligibility requirements before being evaluated on merit.

National Competition Evaluation Criteria

Projects competing for the $757 million National Competition pool are scored on merit criteria that assess the quality, impact, and readiness of proposed hazard mitigation projects. FEMA prioritizes:

• Infrastructure and construction projects ready for implementation
• Projects delivering immediate, measurable risk reduction
• New applicants and subapplicants
• Projects benefiting small impoverished communities
• Adoption and enforcement of modern building codes
• Consideration of future conditions (changing weather patterns, population growth, evolving land use)

Financial Integrity Criteria

FEMA also evaluates the financial health and management capacity of applicants, including review of EIN and bank information for all potential award recipients and subrecipients.

Key Dates

• Application Opens: March 25, 2026
• Application Deadline: July 23, 2026, 3:00 PM Eastern
• Funding Selection Date: Varies by award
• Performance Period: 36 months from date of award
• Archive Date: August 22, 2026

Tips for a Competitive BRIC Application

1. Coordinate Early with Your State

Local governments must apply through their state. Contact your State Hazard Mitigation Officer well before the deadline to understand your state's internal timeline and requirements, as states often set earlier deadlines for subapplicants.

2. Ensure Your Hazard Mitigation Plan Is Current

A FEMA-approved Local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan is required by the application deadline. If your plan is expiring, start the update process immediately. Multi-jurisdictional plans are accepted if your jurisdiction has officially adopted the plan.

3. Focus on Infrastructure and Construction

This NOFO heavily prioritizes infrastructure projects over capability-building activities. Projects should have at minimum a conceptual design and demonstrate clear, measurable risk reduction to the community.

4. Develop a Strong Benefit-Cost Analysis

FEMA's BCA is critical for demonstrating cost-effectiveness. Use FEMA's Benefit Cost Analysis toolkit and contact the BC Helpline at BCHelpline@fema.dhs.gov for guidance.

5. Account for Future Conditions

FEMA emphasizes that infrastructure projects should address not only current risks but also emerging threats over the lifespan of the infrastructure, including changing weather patterns, population growth, and evolving land use.

6. Consider Building Code Activities

The Building Code Plus-Up categories offer dedicated, less competitive funding for communities working on building code adoption and enforcement. If your jurisdiction is adopting or updating to the 2021 or 2024 IBC/IRC, this may be an accessible funding path.

Contact Information

• HMA Helpline: fema-hmahelpline@fema.dhs.gov
• BCA Helpline: BCHelpline@fema.dhs.gov
• FEMA GO Helpdesk: femago@fema.dhs.gov or (877) 585-3242
• FEMA Grants News: fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov or (800) 368-6498
• BRIC Program Website: fema.gov/grants/mitigation/learn/building-resilient-infrastructure-communities

How Avila Can Help

Applying for BRIC funding requires navigating a complex NOFO, coordinating with state agencies, developing a Benefit-Cost Analysis, and assembling extensive documentation. For local government staff already managing multiple responsibilities, this can be a significant lift.

Avila's AI-powered platform helps local governments streamline the grant application process by:

• Analyzing NOFOs to identify key requirements and evaluation criteria
• Helping draft narratives that align with FEMA's scoring priorities
• Tracking deadlines across federal, state, and local timelines
• Managing the complete grant lifecycle from discovery to closeout

Ready to explore how Avila can support your BRIC grant application? Book a demo to learn more about our platform.

For more information on federal grant applications, see our guides on federal grant writing, SAM.gov registration, and Grants.gov registration. For other infrastructure funding opportunities, check out our guide to the BUILD Grant Program and the NGDISM Grant Program.