Flood Mitigation Assistance

Objectives

The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, Federally Recognized Tribal governments, and local governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). It does so with a recognition of the growing flood hazards associated with climate change, and of the need for flood hazard risk mitigation activities that promote climate adaptation, equity, and resilience with respect to flooding. These include both acute extreme weather events and chronic stressors which have been observed and are expected to increase in intensity and frequency in the future. From Fiscal Year (FY) 1996 to FY 2019, FMA obligated over $1.5 billion in federal share mitigating over 8,000 properties insured by the National Flood Insurance Program.

Performance Measures
The following key performance indicators provide strategic and relevant information to decisionmakers and stakeholders about FMA’s progress and success toward achieving goals and objectives, and are based on measurable data that are available or could be feasibly collected:

• Total number of NFIP-insured properties selected that are FMA and/or NFIP defined Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL), Repetitive Loss (RL), and Substantially Damaged.
• Total federal cost share funding invested in Justice40 Communities identified using version 1.0 of the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST).
• Total dollar amount of flood losses avoided in projects or communities funded by FMA subapplications.
FEMA will further assess the recipient’s performance against the program objective during the award closeout process as outlined in Section F.3.c of this funding opportunity.

Goals
The FMA program aligns with the 2020-2024 DHS Strategic Plan through pursuing Goal 5: Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience. Specifically, Objective 5.1: Build a National Culture of Preparedness has several sub-objectives that the FMA program supports. FMA serves primarily to bolster Sub-Objective 5.1.1: Incentivize investments that reduce risk and increase pre-disaster mitigation, including expanding the use of insurance to manage risk through funding flood mitigation projects. The FMA program addresses Presidential Policy Directive 21, Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience. FMA also supports the National Mitigation Investment Strategy and the FIMA FY 2021-2023 Mitigation Strategy by advancing mitigation investment to reduce risks posed by natural hazards and increasing the nation’s resilience to natural hazards. Awards made under this NOFO will be funded, in whole or in part, with funds appropriated by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also more commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). The BIL is a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure, which will grow a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable economy by enhancing U.S. competitiveness, driving the creation of quality jobs, and ensuring stronger access to economic and environmental benefits for disadvantaged communities. The BIL appropriates billions of dollars to FEMA to promote resilient infrastructure, respond to the impacts of climate change, and equip our nation with the resources to combat its most pressing threats. Objectives FMA aims to implement projects that reduce flood risks posed to repetitively flooded properties insured under the NFIP. The FMA program also aims to promote equity in the delivery of funds in line with the Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, established by Executive Order (EO) 14008: Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, which has made it the goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, and other investments flow to disadvantaged communities that are marginalized and overburdened by pollution and underinvestment. In implementing the Justice40 Initiative, the FMA program is prioritizing assistance that benefits disadvantaged communities as referenced in EO 14008 and subsequent guidance. FMA funds are sourced from congressionally appropriated funding from the National Flood Insurance Fund (NFIF) as well as funding made available for FY 23 Flood Mitigation Assistance via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The BIL funding allows increased federal cost share for a property: located within a census tract with a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index score of not less than 0.5001. (Refer to Section C.4, Cost Share or Match).

Each state, territory, the District of Columbia, and federally recognized tribal government shall designate one agency to serve as the applicant for FMA funding. The designee is strongly encouraged to conduct outreach with disadvantaged communities as referenced in EO 14008 prior to and during the application process. Each applicant’s designated agency may submit only one FMA grant application to FEMA. Subapplications under which two or more entities would carry out the award are eligible, such as a multi-state or multi-tribal initiative; however, only one entity may be the applicant with primary responsibility for carrying out the award. Communities, including local governments, cities, townships, counties, special district governments, and tribal governments (including federally recognized tribes who choose to apply as subapplicants), are considered subapplicants and must submit subapplications to their state/territory/tribal applicant agency. Certain political subdivisions (for example, regional flood control districts or county governments) may apply and act as subapplicants if they are part of a community participating in the NFIP where the political subdivision provides zoning and building code enforcement or planning and community development professional services for that community. Contact information for the State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) is provided on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/state-contacts. Eligibility Criteria • All applicants and subapplicants must be participating in the NFIP, and not be withdrawn, on probation, or suspended. NFIP community status can be verified at https://www.fema.gov/national-flood-insuranceprogram-community-status-book. • Structures identified in the subapplication must have an NFIP policy (including a Group Flood Insurance Policy [GFIP]) in effect prior to the opening of the application period and the policy must be maintained throughout the life of the structure. The requirement of maintaining flood insurance shall apply during the life of the property, regardless of transfer of ownership of such property. If the subapplicant does not comply with this requirement, FEMA may take one or more actions as remedies for noncompliance, as appropriate. This could include disallowing all or part of the cost of the activity or action not in compliance. For additional details, see 2 C.F.R. § 200.339. • Applicants are required to have a FEMA-approved State or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.) Part 201 by the application deadline and at the time of obligation of the award. More detailed information is provided in Part III, E.5, Hazard Mitigation Plan Requirement, of the HMA Guidance, available on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/103279. • Subapplicants are required to have a FEMA-approved Local or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with 44 C.F.R. Part 201 by the application deadline and at the time of obligation of grant funds for Capability and Capacity Building activities, Localized Flood Risk Reduction Project, and Individual Flood Mitigation Project subapplications. Mitigation planning subapplications are exempt from the hazard mitigation plan requirement for subapplicants only. Mitigation plan integration, while not required to be eligible for FMA, is encouraged. Local hazard mitigation plans must conform to the Local Plan Review Guide, or any subsequent local mitigation planning guide that supersedes it. • To be considered for financial assistance, all applicants must submit their FY 2023 FMA grant applications to FEMA via FEMA GO. Refer to the NOFO posted on www.Grants.gov for information on eligibility criteria.

Each state, territory, the District of Columbia, and federally recognized tribal government shall designate one agency to serve as the applicant for FMA funding. The designee is strongly encouraged to conduct outreach with disadvantaged communities as referenced in EO 14008 prior to and during the application process. Each applicant’s designated agency may submit only one FMA grant application to FEMA. Subapplications under which two or more entities would carry out the award are eligible, such as a multi-state or multi-tribal initiative; however, only one entity may be the applicant with primary responsibility for carrying out the award.
Communities, including local governments, cities, townships, counties, special district governments, and tribal governments (including federally recognized tribes who choose to apply as subapplicants), are considered subapplicants and must submit subapplications to their state/territory/tribal applicant agency. Certain political subdivisions (for example, regional flood control districts or county governments) may apply and act as subapplicants if they are part of a community participating in the NFIP where the political subdivision provides zoning and building code enforcement or planning and community development professional services for that community. Contact information for the State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) is provided on the FEMA website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/state-contacts.
Refer to the NOFO posted on www.Grants.gov for information.

All applicants must submit an FMA grant application via FEMA GO by the application deadline to be considered for funding. The required format for applications and subapplications is built into FEMA GO:
• FMA applications including Capability and Capacity Building Activities (Mitigation Plan Development under 42 U.S.C. 4104c(c)(3)(F), Technical Assistance by States to communities (42 U.S.C. 4104c(c)(3)(J)), Project Scoping, Additional Capability and Capacity Building Activities (including Partnership Development to Conduct Eligible Mitigation Activities, Enhancing Local Floodplain Management, SRL/RL Strategy Development, and other eligible Capability and Capacity Building Activities under 42 U.S.C. 4104c(c)(3)(G)), Localized Flood Risk Reduction Project, Individual Flood Mitigation Project, and Management Costs subapplications must be submitted in an FY 2023 FMA application.
o Mitigation Plan Development activities must be submitted in a plan subapplication type.
o Project Scoping activities must be submitted in a project scoping application type.
o Technical Assistance by States to communities (42 U.S.C. 4104c(c)(3)(J) must be submitted in a technical assistance subapplication.
o Additional Capability and Capacity Building Activities must be submitted in a technical assistance subapplication.
o Localized Flood Risk Reduction Project and Individual Flood Mitigation Project must be submitted in a project subapplication.
• Applicant Management Costs must be submitted in a management costs subapplication.

Applications are reviewed by DHS/FEMA program and administrative staff. Any issues or concerns noted in the application will be negotiated with the successful applicant prior to the award being issued. Applicants are responsible for distributing funds to sub-applicants. Upon award the Applicant is subsequently referred to as the Recipient. Recipients are responsible for distributing funds to subrecipients. For more information view the Notices of Funding Opportunities posted on www.Grants.gov

Please see the NOFO Announcement posted on www.Grants.gov.