FEMA Resumes $1B BRIC Grant Program: New Rules and Accelerated Deadlines for States

Hook

After a yearlong freeze, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has officially resumed the $1 billion Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program. A court order forced FEMA to restore this critical funding stream, enabling states, localities, and tribes to again apply—but with crucial changes: applicants now have just 120 days and must navigate new, state-focused rules prioritizing ready-to-launch projects.

Context

The BRIC program, launched under the Trump administration to help communities reduce disaster risk before crises strike, is one of FEMA’s most important sources for funding flood, stormwater, and resilience projects. In April 2025, its abrupt cancellation by Executive Order froze hundreds of approved projects and left more than $1 billion in limbo for mitigation efforts like property buyouts and coastal protection.

The pause wasn’t just bureaucratic: it halted major water and flood protection upgrades in places like Scranton, PA and Manchester, MA. Twenty-two states—including North Carolina and Pennsylvania—sued to reverse the freeze. In December 2025, a federal judge ruled that FEMA acted outside its authority in canceling the program and ordered its immediate reinstatement. Following several months of legal wrangling and persistent advocacy by state and local officials, FEMA relented, announcing the relaunch and modernization of its grant application platforms on March 23, 2026.

This reopening comes amid heightened need for pre-disaster investment: climate-related weather events are increasing, and federal dollars for mitigation reduce long-term recovery costs. The BRIC program’s restoration, after an unprecedented legal reversal, is nationally significant—setting tone for how disaster preparedness funds are managed under current and future administrations.

Impact

BRIC’s return is welcome news. For states and large localities with the resources to act quickly, the 2026 grant cycle offers an opportunity to unlock previously frozen project funding. According to Oregon officials, funds from prior fiscal years (2020-2023) will again be distributed, and project review/monitoring has resumed. This could release more than $200 million for North Carolina alone and allow 656 stalled projects nationwide to move forward.

However, the revised Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) introduces major changes:

• Shorter Timelines: The new 120-day window (through July 2026) is much shorter than in past years, increasing pressure on would-be applicants to prepare high-quality submissions under tight deadlines.
• State-Level Focus: Instead of direct local government or tribal awards, state agencies will act as primary applicants and pass funds to eligible subrecipients. There is less direct access for small towns or nontraditional partners, requiring close coordination with state emergency management.
• Ready-to-Implement Projects Prioritized: Given the rush and emphasis on tangible, near-term results, projects must be well-planned and shovel-ready. New guidance suggests preference for efforts with secured local matches and completed engineering/permitting.

Local governments, tribal nations, and nonprofit partners must adapt quickly—either by teaming with their respective state agency or reworking earlier applications to match current criteria.

Action

If you’re seeking BRIC funding in 2026, act now:

1. Contact Your State Emergency Management Agency Immediately. They control the application process and will select projects for submission to FEMA. Make your interest and project details known now.
2. Assess Project Readiness. Review your proposal: prioritize projects with completed designs, local funding commitments, clear cost-benefit, and environmental reviews. Projects with the highest readiness and impact are most competitive under the new rules.
3. Monitor Official Guidance. FEMA’s BRIC program page will publish the revised NOFO and FAQs; states may also announce their own deadlines and requirements. Sign up for updates and engage in webinars or stakeholder sessions to stay informed.
4. Prepare for Contingencies. Because some prior awards may require reapplication or documentation updates, have your paperwork—and contacts—ready to respond quickly as more guidance is released.
5. Document Shutdown Disruptions. If your organization was affected by the partial federal shutdown or past funding freezes, keep records. FEMA and state agencies are seeking clarification and extensions for delayed projects.

Outlook

Watch for the formal release of the revised BRIC NOFO in the coming weeks, along with state-specific deadlines. While the court victory restores pre-disaster mitigation funding, questions remain about the fate of previously awarded projects, possible funding reductions, and long-term impacts on local access. Policymakers and advocates are likely to push for further administrative fixes and potential Congressional intervention to stabilize disaster funding for future cycles.

For those seeking to navigate these changes, staying proactive and connected is key. Granted AI’s grant monitoring and proposal tools can help you track updates and get your application ready in time.