April 14, 2022

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When Congress passed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act last year, flood resilience got a major boost. With over $34 billion for flood resilience and billions in funding across other programs, the law marks a major opportunity for communities to prepare for stronger storms and rising seas, protect lives and property, and create jobs. 

Now, communities on the frontlines of flooding must navigate the law to identify projects and take steps to obtain funds. 

The American Flood Coalition previously outlined eight resilience priorities included in the law, but many other programs and funding sources in the bill will also be attractive to communities — from funding for roads and bridges to water infrastructure.

This post will explore how communities can prepare for this influx of federal funding. Read on to learn how local leaders can develop smart projects, submit competitive applications, and overall benefit from this historic law. 

When will funding be available? 

New programs established in the infrastructure law — such as competitive grants for resilient transportation infrastructure through the Department of Transportation — still need to be developed and funded. Select programs will be up and running once Congress appropriates funding and federal agencies write regulations to carry out the programs, likely in late 2022 or 2023.

But other funding is available right now or will become available in the near future through existing funding or formula programs. For example, funding for Army Corps projects authorized by Congress is already being disbursed; and in the fall, communities can apply for new funding through two popular flood resilience programs: the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant program and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program. 

Those that are eligible may apply for FMA funds starting April 1 through FEMA’s Swift Current initiative, which will expedite assistance to flood-prone homeowners in four states devastated by Hurricane Ida last summer.

To sift through the complex federal grants system, leaders should also use AFC’s Flood Funding Finder. This first-of-its-kind tool uses a robust filtering system to prioritize the needs of small communities and help them identify the federal funding programs that work for their communities. 

Why prepare now? 

Though not all program applications are open, communities should now take steps to make local projects competitive and put communities in the best position to receive funds, once they become available. 

Examples of preparing include compiling data, seeking community input, conducting studies, and identifying projects. Plus, these preparations will better prepare communities for a variety of federal funding opportunities, including and in addition to resources from the infrastructure law. 

How to prepare: Community checklist 

Now that you know why to prepare for infrastructure funding when it becomes available, below are some ways on how to prepare:

✔ Review upcoming funding opportunities

The following resources are available for communities seeking federal funding: 

• General information at Build.gov, as well as a guidebook that includes funding available under the law and program-by-program information. 
• Available grants on AFC’s Flood Funding Finder, our sortable tool that explores available federal programs and related requirements to fund flood resilience and recovery. 
• Additional grant information on Sam.gov, such as compliance and policy requirements, award priorities, and distribution of funds requirements.
• Grant funding announcements, called Notice of Funding Opportunities, on federal agencies’ webpages, which include grant application information, eligibility requirements, and cost shares.

✔ Reach out to state agencies

Though the federal government will provide funding, states will administer the majority of funds provided by the new infrastructure law. One of the best first steps is to reach out to key state agencies like the state department of transportation or department of environmental protection. Communities might also ask when funding will become available, and what documents or resources to prepare in advance.

Additionally, the Biden Administration requested states to designate an infrastructure coordinator. Ask your state agencies if the governor has named someone to coordinate the influx of infrastructure funds heading to your state.

✔ Consider designating an infrastructure coordinator for your city

Speaking of infrastructure coordinators, it is recommended that whenever possible, cities should appoint a central person to coordinate local infrastructure opportunities. 

• For a large city, this might mean hiring a position to focus solely on infrastructure funding. 
• For a smaller city, it might mean assigning a member of the city staff to track relevant programs and updates.

✔ Ensure your community’s Hazard Mitigation Plan is robust and up to date 

To be eligible for certain FEMA grant programs, communities must have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan by the application deadline. To be as competitive as possible when seeking funds, local officials should create a plan that goes above and beyond the minimum requirements by referring to FEMA’s Local Mitigation Planning Handbook. Officials can also participate in FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Planning Training. 

✔ Gather the right data

To ensure projects will stand up to increasingly severe and frequent extreme weather events, communities should look to incorporate accurate, forward-looking data whenever possible. They should also:  

• Consider the ways that socially vulnerable communities are at risk from flooding and how proposed projects may affect these communities. Leaders can start with FEMA’s National Risk Index, an online mapping application that overlays community risk with social vulnerability data. 
• Determine studies and assessments needed for proposed projects, such as environmental reviews, hydrology studies or other technical assessments. 

✔ Seek out technical assistance opportunities

For those communities with limited capacity and resources, technical assistance can also help, especially in the early stages of project planning. 

• For example, FEMA’s BRIC program provides select communities with nonfinancial technical assistance for 36 months for support with projects, applications, and community-wide resilience. 

✔ Identify flood resilience projects 

To be in a stronger position to secure federal dollars, leaders should understand their communities’ vulnerabilities to flooding and build out robust project plans and pipelines. 

But flood resilient infrastructure comes in all shapes and sizes, and it can be daunting to identify the solution that best fits your community. So, when identifying and ranking projects, communities should: 

• Prioritize projects that reduce flood risk for critical facilities that are most threatened by flooding, such as hospitals, schools, and water treatment plants. 
• Consider local plans that include projects that might benefit from federal funds, such as master plans and stormwater master plans.
• Review plans for projects that are shovel-ready and may receive stronger consideration in the application process.
• Use AFC’s Adaptation for All guide, developed with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Arcadis, which highlights 26 types of flood solutions broken down by cost, benefits, scale, and more.
• View FEMA’s mitigation action portfolio, which includes case studies of successful resilience projects that received federal funding.

✔ Prioritize community engagement 

As local leaders identify and scope projects, they should seek out community voices and perspectives. Leaders should proactively engage members of underserved and underrepresented communities to understand all impacts, including potential projects’ benefits, as well as unintended consequences. 

• For an example of an equitable approach to flood resilience, view these lessons from Harris Country, Texas.
• For more on elevating equity in policy making, view our Conversations with Communities report, produced in partnership with the Institute for Diversity and Inclusion in Emergency Management. 

✔ Bring in partners 

Many federal funding opportunities will only cover part of a project’s total cost, and in many cases, local communities may need to supply a percentage of funding as well. By bringing in private, regional, and nonprofit partners, communities can open up access to more financial resources, as well expertise. 

Advancing flood resilience for the long haul

With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, communities across the country have a historic opportunity to prepare for a future of stronger storms and more frequent floods. And though all funding is not yet available, communities can still get a jumpstart on this historic influx of federal funds. 

In addition to using the checklist above, you can follow the American Flood Coalition on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. You can also sign up for our monthly newsletter, where we post regular updates on federal funding.