WASHINGTON — FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program provide billions of dollars annually for projects that reduce the risk of future disaster damage — including home elevations, storm shelter construction, and wildfire mitigation. Here is how homeowners and contractors can access these funds.
The HMGP provides funding for hazard mitigation projects following a presidentially declared disaster. The program is administered by state emergency management agencies, which solicit project applications from local governments and homeowners in the declared disaster area. Eligible projects include home elevations, acquisitions of flood-prone properties, storm shelter construction, and wildfire home hardening.
The BRIC program provides funding for hazard mitigation projects that are not tied to a specific disaster declaration. BRIC funding is available to state and local governments and can be used for a wide range of mitigation projects, including community-wide flood mitigation, wildfire risk reduction, and building code adoption and enforcement.
Individual homeowners can access HMGP funding through their local government, which applies for HMGP grants on behalf of homeowners in eligible areas. The application process can be lengthy — HMGP projects typically take two to four years from application to completion — but the funding can cover up to 75 percent of the cost of eligible mitigation measures.
Restoration contractors who are familiar with the HMGP and BRIC programs can provide valuable guidance to homeowners and local governments seeking to access mitigation funding. Contractors who have experience with federally funded projects and who understand the documentation and compliance requirements of federal grants are well-positioned to compete for mitigation project contracts.
