$1 Billion in FEMA BRIC Funding Is Open—How to Position a Competitive Project

FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program has released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for $1 billion in funding for projects that reduce long-term disaster risk.

For many communities, this is a rare opportunity to advance critical infrastructure. But BRIC is not a broad-access funding pool—it is a highly competitive program that consistently rewards preparation, technical rigor, and implementation readiness.

To help communities quickly orient themselves, Fuss & O’Neill has developed a 1-page BRIC overview summarizing eligibility, funding, and key requirements, along with a short video discussion featuring Janan Reilly, who previously reviewed BRIC applications at FEMA, on what actually differentiates successful submissions.

What’s Different This Year

This year’s Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) continues a clear trend: FEMA is prioritizing projects that are ready to move toward construction.

Key points to be aware of:

• $757 million is allocated to the national competition
• Projects at 30% design or further are strongly favored
• Focus remains on infrastructure resilience (roads, bridges, utilities, public facilities)
• Hazard mitigation plan updates are not eligible this cycle

The implication is straightforward: projects that are still conceptual will struggle to compete.

What FEMA Is Really Evaluating

While eligibility requirements are well documented, competitive applications tend to share a consistent set of characteristics.

Strong BRIC submissions demonstrate:

• Clear, quantifiable risk reduction to people and property
• A defensible Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA)
• Design maturity that shows the project can be implemented
• Technical feasibility and regulatory alignment
• Direct consistency with an approved hazard mitigation plan

From a reviewer’s perspective, the question is simple: Is this project ready, credible, and worth investing in now?
That perspective is explored further in our video discussion.

Where Applications Typically Fall Short

Many communities approach BRIC with viable concepts but encounter challenges during application development.

Common issues include:

• Projects that lack sufficient engineering detail
• Benefit-cost analyses that are incomplete or difficult to defend
• Misalignment with hazard mitigation plans
• Unclear implementation pathways

These gaps ultimately make an application less competitive and in a national competition like BRIC, that’s often the difference between being selected or not.

What Successful Projects Look Like in Practice

Fuss & O’Neill has supported multiple BRIC-funded efforts across the Northeast, each reflecting a different stage of project development—but all demonstrating strong technical grounding.

• Meriden, CT – Harbor Brook Flood Mitigation
  A fully developed flood mitigation project combining channel improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and floodplain restoration. Advanced design and clear risk reduction were central to its competitiveness.
• Narragansett, RI – Foddering Farm Road Causeway
  A resilience study advancing alternatives for elevating a flood-prone roadway, with careful evaluation of cost, performance, and environmental benefits.
• Fitchburg, MA – Blue/Green Fitchburg Initiative
  An integrated climate adaptation effort addressing both flood risk and heat, translating community priorities into actionable, fundable strategies.

Across these examples, a consistent theme emerges: projects that secure funding are those that bridge planning and implementation.

Key Timeline and Requirements

Communities considering an application should plan around the following:

• FEMA deadline: July 23, 2026 (3:00 PM EST)
• State/tribal deadlines: Typically earlier and vary by state
• Cost share: 75% federal / 25% non-federal
• Maximum award: $20 million
• Period of performance: ~36 months

Applications must be submitted through FEMA GO via the appropriate state, tribe, or territory.

A Practical Takeaway

BRIC funding is not designed to develop ideas—it is designed to advance projects that are already on a path to implementation.

Communities that are most successful tend to:

• Advance projects to meaningful design milestones early
• Invest in a strong, defensible BCA
• Ensure alignment with planning and regulatory frameworks

Those steps take time, which is why early preparation often determines outcomes.

For a quick reference, our 1-page BRIC overview outlines eligibility, funding structure, and key requirements, while our video conversation provides additional insight into how applications are evaluated in practice.

Moving Forward

For communities evaluating whether to pursue BRIC funding, the immediate question is not just “Do we have a good project?” but “Is our project developed enough to compete?”

Fuss & O’Neill works with communities to:

• Advance project design and feasibility
• Develop Benefit-Cost Analyses
• Position applications strategically for funding

If you are considering a BRIC application, this is the window to refine and strengthen your approach.