Increasing the Effectiveness of BRIC Grant Applications: Lessons Learned

The Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program is FEMA's newest tool to help utilities with management costs, capability and capacity building activities, and mitigation projects. Total available funding for 2022 is estimated to be $1 billion. This program is eligible for a wide range of project types that are packaged under an import goal for our communities — improving the resilience of critical infrastructure by mitigating the threats that would inhibit our ability to provide mission critical services. For many communities, utilizing BRIC funding opportunities as an implementation element of the Risk and Resiliency Assessments and Emergency Response Plans required by EPA for drinking water utilities under America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 will provide an important next step in managing infrastructure risks and building resilient communities. This presentation is designed to expand on the guiding principles behind this important grant funding program, facilitate an in-depth understanding of the application process, identify the range of eligible project types that may qualify for this grant funding opportunity and explores the lessons learned on the application process and the nuances of developing your project submittal to not only 'Check the Box of Must Do items', but also build in additional community considerations that by design, demonstrate the true Multi-Benefit of risk mitigation and resiliency enhancements for your community. The cornerstone of this presentation will be case studies from successful BRIC-funded projects to tell the story of how to improve your BRIC application for funding effectiveness.