FEMA Announces 2024-2025 BRIC Grant Funding Opportunity for Wisconsin

DATE: March 31, 2026
TO: County and Tribe Emergency Management Directors
Wisconsin Regional Planning Commissions
WEM Region Directors
Wisconsin Silver Jackets Hazard Mitigation Team
FROM: Chad Atkinson, Hazard Mitigation Section Supervisor
SUBJECT: Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)
Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2024 & 2025
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program

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INTRODUCTION

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced the availability of funds for the 2024 and 2025 Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities (BRIC) grant program. The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) includes several updates compared to prior notifications, and Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) is working to gain more clarity on these changes. Potential applicants are encouraged to review this information promptly to maximize their preparation time ahead of deadlines.

TIMELINE

• March 25, 2026
• April 17, 2026

  • Submission of Notices of Intent (Pre-Application) to WEM. Note that these will be ranked, and not all will progress further.

• May 1, 2026

  • Potential subapplicants should be registered in FEMA GO (go.fema.gov). Ensure active SAM.gov account, EIN, and UEI. Resolve registration issues by this date or contact WEM for help.

• June 5, 2026

  • Final draft subapplications due to WEM for review to optimize national competition scoring.

• July 17, 2026

  • Deadline for subapplications in FEMA GO by 11:59PM CDT. This allows WEM seven days to finalize and address any technical issues prior to the final submission deadline. Late submissions will not be considered.

FUNDING DETAILS

Funding for the FFY 2024 & 2025 BRIC program is distributed as follows:

COST SHARE REQUIREMENTS

The BRIC program requires a 75% federal and 25% non-federal cost share. However, small, impoverished communities¹ may qualify for up to a 90% federal share if they meet certain criteria:

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

PROGRAM ACTIVITIES

The BRIC program is a competitive federal grant initiative supporting a variety of hazard mitigation activities:

• Capability- and Capacity-Building Activities

  These activities promote infrastructure resilience and include initiatives such as adopting and enforcing hazard-resistant building codes. Note that hazard mitigation planning is not eligible under this NOFO.

• Hazard Mitigation Projects

  Projects aimed at improving resilience and public safety by reducing risks and damages from natural hazards. Eligible projects must have a complete conceptual design.

• Management Costs

  Funds to cover eligible and reasonable indirect and direct administrative expenses related to mitigation measures or projects.

ELIGIBLE SUBAPPLICANTS

WEM is the primary applicant for BRIC funding, with subapplications required to go through WEM. Eligible subapplicants include:

• Federally recognized tribal nations
• Local governmental units (towns, villages, cities, counties)
• Special district governments (e.g., school districts)

Tribal nations may apply directly to FEMA or as a WEM subapplicant and are encouraged to consult with WEM staff regarding their options.

FUNDING ALLOCATIONS

State/Territory Allocation

Wisconsin can submit subapplications totaling $2,000,000 for activities related to Capability- and Capacity-Building or hazard mitigation projects.

State/Territory Building Code Plus-Up

Wisconsin may submit up to $1,000,000 in applications for building code adoption and enforcement activities, such as evaluating and enhancing existing codes.

Tribal Set-Aside

An applicant may submit activities not exceeding $2,000,000 under the tribal set-aside. If applications exceed $50,000,000, selection will prioritize Capability- and Capacity-Building activities and top-ranked projects, with remaining applications evaluated under the National Competition.

Tribal Building Code Plus-Up

The maximum allocation for tribal building code activities is $25,000,000, with eligible activities including code evaluation, enhancement, and workforce development.

National Competition

Subapplicants may apply for hazard mitigation projects with a maximum federal share of $20,000,000.

REQUIREMENTS AND CRITERIA

• Hazard Mitigation Plan

  Subapplicants need an approved hazard mitigation plan by the application deadline. Those with expired plans should contact WEM. Plans are not required for Capability- and Capacity-Building activities.

• Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA)

  Applicants must use FEMA-approved tools to show project cost-effectiveness.

• Go/No-Go Milestones

  These must be identified for projects in the national competition and approved by FEMA.

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

  Applicants must comply with NEPA requirements.

• Acquisition Project Requirements

  A signed Statement of Voluntary Participation for each property is required post-award.

• Intergovernmental Review

  May be required.

• Funding Restrictions and Allowable Costs

  All costs must comply with federal guidelines as specified in 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

For more details or to request a Notice of Intent Pre-Application for FFY 24 & 25 BRIC Program, contact WEM Hazard Mitigation Section at DMAWEMHazardMitigation@widma.gov

EVALUATION CRITERIA FOR THE NATIONAL COMPETITION