Deadline: 23-Jul-26
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program is a major FEMA hazard mitigation funding opportunity that provides an expected $1 billion to help states, U.S. territories, the District of Columbia, and federally recognized tribal nations reduce disaster risk and strengthen infrastructure resilience. The program supports hazard mitigation projects, building code adoption, infrastructure modernization, disaster risk reduction, and construction-ready resilience investments, with a major national competition offering up to $20 million per project.
What is the FEMA BRIC Grant Program?
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program is a federal grant program administered by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
It provides funding for proactive hazard mitigation instead of waiting until disasters happen. The goal is to reduce the long-term impact of natural hazards through stronger infrastructure, better building standards, and risk-reduction planning.
BRIC Grant Program Funding Overview
Total Expected Funding
- Expected total funding: $1 billion
Applicant Funding Cap
- Each applicant is subject to a cap of 15% of total available funding
This cap is designed to ensure that BRIC funds are distributed more broadly across eligible jurisdictions.
Major Funding Categories
The BRIC program distributes funding across several categories:
- State and territory allocations
- Tribal set-aside funding
- Building Code Plus-Up funding
- National competition funding pool
Key Focus Areas of the BRIC Program
The BRIC program supports projects that improve long-term disaster resilience and reduce hazard exposure.
Main Priority Areas
- Hazard mitigation activities
- Infrastructure modernization
- Disaster risk reduction
- Community resilience building
- Adoption and enforcement of modern building codes
- Investment in construction-ready projects
- Support for vulnerable and at-risk communities
- Strengthening national project delivery capacity
These priorities reflect FEMA’s shift from reactive disaster response to proactive resilience investment.
Funding Categories Explained
State and Territory Allocation
Under this category, eligible applicants may receive:
- Up to $2 million
What This Funding Supports
This stream mainly supports:
- Infrastructure-related capability and capacity building
- Building code adoption and enforcement
- Project development linked to resilience planning
- Limited public awareness and educational activities tied directly to eligible projects
Tribal Set-Aside Funding
Federally recognized tribal nations may access dedicated funding through the tribal set-aside.
Key Features
- Similar caps and conditions to state/territory allocations
- Focus on:
- Infrastructure resilience
- Hazard mitigation capacity
- Building code strengthening
- Project readiness
A limited share of funding may also support public awareness or educational efforts directly connected to eligible activities.
Building Code Plus-Up Funding
BRIC includes Building Code Plus-Up funding for both:
- States and territories
- Federally recognized tribal nations
Purpose of Building Code Plus-Up
This funding is specifically meant to support:
- Adoption of modern hazard-resistant building codes
- Enforcement of updated building codes
- Code evaluation and review
- Building code enhancement
- Workforce development for code implementation
Examples of Relevant Codes
The program highlights modern standards such as:
- International Building Code (IBC)
- International Residential Code (IRC)
Important Restriction
These funds are restricted and cannot be redirected to unrelated project types.
National Competition Pool
A large share of BRIC funding is reserved for a national competition.
Maximum Funding Per Project
- Up to $20 million federal share per project
What FEMA Prioritizes Here
The national competition is designed for large-scale, high-impact hazard mitigation projects that show:
- Clear and measurable risk reduction
- Strong project readiness
- High potential for community resilience
- Strong implementation potential
- Construction-readiness
Applicants may submit multiple project proposals under this component.
Who is Eligible?
Direct Eligible Applicants
The BRIC program is open to:
- U.S. states
- U.S. territories
- District of Columbia
- Federally recognized tribal nations
Important Applicant Rule
Each eligible jurisdiction must designate one single agency to apply on its behalf.
Can Local Governments Apply?
Local governments and other eligible local entities may participate through subapplications.
Subapplicants May Include
- Local governments
- Communities
- Other eligible entities under the designated applicant structure
However:
- They cannot apply directly to FEMA under BRIC
- They must submit through the designated state, territorial, DC, or tribal applicant agency
Core Eligibility Requirement
All applicants must have:
- An approved hazard mitigation plan in place at the time of application
This is a critical requirement. Without an approved plan, the application may not qualify.
Why the BRIC Program Matters
The BRIC program is important because it shifts federal investment toward pre-disaster resilience.
Instead of spending only after disasters occur, FEMA uses BRIC to help jurisdictions:
- Reduce future disaster losses
- Protect infrastructure and communities
- Lower long-term recovery costs
- Improve building safety
- Strengthen preparedness for climate and natural hazards
Why This Matters Strategically
BRIC is especially important for:
- Flood resilience
- Wildfire mitigation
- Storm and wind risk reduction
- Earthquake-related resilience
- Infrastructure hardening
- Safer building standards
- Community risk reduction planning
How the BRIC Program Works
Step-by-Step Overview
- Eligible applicant agency is designated
A state, territory, DC, or tribal nation must identify the single official applicant agency. - Subapplications are collected (if applicable)
Local governments and other eligible entities submit projects through the designated agency. - Hazard mitigation plan is verified
Applicants must confirm an approved hazard mitigation plan is already in place. - Funding category is selected
Applicants decide whether to pursue:- State/territory allocation
- Tribal set-aside
- Building Code Plus-Up
- National competition
- Projects are developed and prioritized
Strong proposals should show:- Clear hazard risk
- Measurable mitigation benefits
- Readiness for implementation
- Strong infrastructure value
- Alignment with FEMA resilience priorities
- Applications are submitted through the designated agency
All required project documentation, budgets, and supporting materials must be included.
What Makes a Strong BRIC Proposal?
Strong BRIC applications usually demonstrate:
- A clear hazard mitigation need
- Strong infrastructure resilience impact
- Measurable risk reduction outcomes
- Construction-ready or implementation-ready status
- Strong alignment with modern building codes
- Benefits for vulnerable or high-risk communities
- Clear long-term cost savings
- Strong technical feasibility
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid these common BRIC application errors:
- Applying without an approved hazard mitigation plan
- Submitting projects that are not clearly hazard mitigation-focused
- Treating BRIC like a general infrastructure grant
- Failing to show measurable risk reduction
- Submitting projects that are not implementation-ready
- Misusing Building Code Plus-Up funds for unrelated activities
- Ignoring the 15% applicant funding cap
- Weak coordination between subapplicants and the designated agency
FAQ
1. What is the FEMA BRIC grant program?
The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program is a FEMA grant program that funds hazard mitigation and resilient infrastructure projects to reduce risks from natural hazards across the United States.
2. How much funding is available under BRIC?
The program offers an expected $1 billion in total funding.
3. Who can apply for BRIC funding?
Eligible applicants include:
- U.S. states
- U.S. territories
- District of Columbia
- Federally recognized tribal nations
Each must apply through a single designated agency.
4. Can local governments apply directly to FEMA?
No. Local governments and similar entities must apply through subapplications submitted by the designated applicant agency.
5. What is the maximum funding under the national competition?
Applicants may submit multiple projects, and each project may request up to $20 million in federal share under the national competition.
6. What is Building Code Plus-Up funding?
It is a dedicated BRIC funding stream that supports:
- Building code adoption
- Code enforcement
- Code evaluation
- Code enhancement
- Workforce development for hazard-resistant building standards
7. Is an approved hazard mitigation plan required?
Yes. All applicants must have an approved hazard mitigation plan in place at the time of application.
Conclusion
The FEMA BRIC grant program is one of the most important U.S. federal resilience and hazard mitigation funding opportunities, offering $1 billion to strengthen infrastructure, improve building standards, and reduce disaster risk before future hazards occur.
For more information, visit Grants.gov.
