Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant

The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Program is a federal Hazard Mitigation Assistance program that makes funding available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized Tribal Nations, and local governments for activities intended to reduce risks from natural hazards. In Florida, the Florida Division of Emergency Management Mitigation Bureau is coordinating the state's BRIC process. The program recognizes the need to upgrade and modernize infrastructure against increasing natural hazard risks and supports pre-disaster investments intended to save lives, protect property, strengthen community resilience, and reduce future disaster response and recovery costs. BRIC supports hazard mitigation activities and emphasizes infrastructure and construction projects that provide immediate, measurable risk reduction for public infrastructure and communities vulnerable to natural hazards. Examples identified by the Florida Division of Emergency Management include school safe rooms, utility hardening, relocation of critical facilities out of flood-prone areas, and securing pump stations. Project resources provided on the program page address drought, flood control and drainage improvements, generators, hurricane and tornado safe rooms, utility mitigation, wildfire mitigation, and wind retrofits. Projects must be cost-effective, technically feasible, effective, and consistent with applicable FEMA-approved state and local multi-hazard mitigation plans. The program also prioritizes projects ready for implementation and encourages adoption and enforcement of the latest published editions of hazard-resistant building codes. Eligible subapplicants identified by the Florida Division of Emergency Management include state agencies, federally recognized tribes, local governments and communities, and federally recognized Native American Tribal Governments. Local governments may also include non-federally recognized tribes or, consistent with the statutory definition of local government, a tribe, authorized tribal organization, or Alaska Native village or organization that is not federally recognized. Applicants and subapplicants seeking funding for mitigation projects must have a FEMA-approved mitigation plan as of the application deadline in accordance with Title 44 CFR Part 201. Eligible subapplications are awarded through a nationally competitive process. Federal funding is available for up to 75 percent of eligible activity costs, while small, impoverished communities may be eligible for a federal cost share of up to 90 percent. For the anticipated FY 2026 BRIC application cycle in Florida, the Notice of Interest period began July 13, 2026. All prospective subapplicants interested in submitting a BRIC subapplication through Florida are required to complete the FY 2026 Notice of Interest Form and submit it to the Non-Disaster Programs email at non-disasterprograms@em.myflorida.com. The NOI deadline was 5:00 p.m. EDT on August 14, 2026. NOI forms could be submitted as soon as completed and were reviewed in the order received. FDEM states that the NOI is used to determine potential project eligibility and provide early feedback, potentially reducing review time during the formal subapplication process. Early submission also gives prospective subapplicants additional time to resolve issues and develop a complete and competitive subapplication. Cost-effectiveness is an important project requirement. Subapplicants must use a FEMA-approved methodology to perform a Benefit Cost Analysis, and only project subapplications demonstrating cost-effectiveness through a benefit cost ratio of 1.0 or greater will be considered. The Benefit Cost Analysis must be attached to the subapplication. FEMA's approved BCA Toolkit, including applicable Flood Modules, is available for this purpose. The BCA Helpline is available at 855-540-6744 or bchelpline@fema.dhs.gov. Environmental and Historic Preservation guidance, FEMA GO registration and subapplication guidance, project worksheets, cost estimation resources, and other Hazard Mitigation Assistance materials are also identified as resources for prospective subapplicants. The formal FY 2026 BRIC application period had not been announced in the supplied material. FDEM states that additional application-period information will be provided following FEMA's release of the BRIC Notice of Funding Opportunity. Accordingly, the supplied information establishes the completed July 13 through August 14, 2026 Notice of Interest period but does not establish the formal FY 2026 application opening date, final subapplication deadline, award notification date, number of awards, award floor, award ceiling, total program funding, or period of performance. Program inquiries may be directed to the State of Florida Division of Emergency Management Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Program, 2489 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32311, at non-disasterprograms@em.myflorida.com. The general Florida Division of Emergency Management telephone number supplied is 850-815-4000.

Submit the NOI as early as possible because forms are reviewed in order received and early feedback can provide additional time to address issues; develop a complete and competitive subapplication; prioritize implementation-ready infrastructure and construction projects delivering immediate, measurable risk reduction; ensure a FEMA-approved mitigation plan is in place by the application deadline; use a FEMA-approved BCA methodology and demonstrate a benefit cost ratio of at least 1.0.