Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)

How it works

BRIC is described as a FEMA grant program that makes federal funds available for hazard mitigation activities. The page says it is designed to lower future disaster costs and support infrastructure upgrades and modernization against natural weather disasters, climate-related hazards, and other natural hazard risks.

What the money covers

The page lists eligible BRIC activities as those that directly support infrastructure resilience, including:

• Adoption, enforcement, and implementation of hazard-resistant building codes
• Project scoping activities for specific infrastructure
• Hazard mitigation projects that are cost-effective infrastructure and construction projects designed to increase resilience and public safety; reduce injuries and loss of life; and reduce damage and destruction to property, critical services, facilities, and infrastructure from hazards including drought, wildfire, earthquakes, and natural weather disasters

The page also says generators, solar panels, and microgrids that directly support the critical functions of critical infrastructure are eligible, as are culverts, bridges, and major infrastructure upgrades that increase protection to critical infrastructure. Vehicles, including fire trucks and response vehicles, are not eligible. Conceptual design is not required to apply, but a subapplication can be submitted for design work if conceptual design has not been completed.

Amounts and matching

The page gives these BRIC allocations for the FY24/FY25 NOFO:

• State Competition Allocation: $2 million
• State Allocation for Building Codes: $1 million
• National Competition Allocation: $757,000,000.00 million
• Tribal Set-Aside: $50 million
• Tribal Building Code Plus Up: $25 million It also states the cost share is 75% federal / 25% non-federal unless the applicant is an impoverished community as defined in 42 U.S.C. § 5133(a), in which case funding may increase up to a 90% federal / 10% non-federal split. For a community to qualify as impoverished, it must have 3,000 or fewer people and an average per capita annual income not exceeding 80% of the national per capita income, based on the best available data. Other federal funding sources generally cannot be used as match unless the authorizing statute allows it.

How to apply

The page says to read the FEMA NOFO, federal procurement requirements, and the MEMA BRIC Fact Sheet, and to contact hmagrants@maine.gov for eligibility checks, project inquiries, application, and application details. Virtual open office hours are offered every Monday from 11am to 12pm.

Timing and deadlines

• Application deadline to the State Hazard Mitigation Officer: 2026-06-18 17:00
• The page indicates BRIC is available through a Notice of Funding Opportunity
• As of February 21, 2023, shovel-ready projects with total project cost over $250,000 are subject to BABAA requirements
• The page also notes that subrecipients previously awarded do not need to reapply and that FY24 applicants whose submissions were terminated may reapply if they meet the new eligible project types

Notes for homeowners

BRIC is not a homeowner rebate or direct retrofit grant on this page. Individuals and businesses are ineligible, so any homeowner benefit would flow through an eligible community or government project.