As the Trump Administration reviews federal grant priorities and timelines, we encourage those working on project proposals to reach out to federal and state program leads and monitor official federal channels for the latest guidance. AFC is tracking key flooding and resilience programs and will provide specific updates whenever possible. For the current fiscal year (FY25), sections 204, 111, and 103 did not receive funding.  

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) streamlines approval for small-scale flood risk reduction and ecosystem restoration projects, allowing faster local implementation without individual Congressional authorization. 

Supports nature-based solutions

Application cycle: Interested state or local agencies may submit a letter of request at any time to their local USACE district. Funding is limited and highly competitive, with allocations determined at the division level based on priorities across multiple districts.

Summary: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) supports small-scale water resources projects—such as flood risk management, shoreline protection, and ecosystem restoration—without requiring separate Congressional authorization, making it faster to initiate than most USACE projects. Funding is limited and cost-shared, so CAP is best suited for localized projects.. Each CAP “section” refers to a specific legal authority that defines eligible project types and points of contact, helping communities identify the one that best fits their needs.

Eligible applicants: State, and local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, eligible Native American Indian tribes. 

Eligible activities: All projects proceed in two phases: a feasibility study to establish federal interest and objectives, followed by design and implementation. The sections are as follows: (1) section 14, streambank and shoreline erosion protection of public works and non-profit public services; (2) section 103, beach erosion and hurricane and storm damage reduction; (3) section 107, navigation improvements; (4) section 111, shore damage prevention or mitigation caused by Federal navigation projects; (5) section 204, beneficial uses of dredged materials; (6) section 205, flood control; (7) section 206,  aquatic ecosystem restoration; (8) removal of obstructions and clearing of channels for flood control; (9) project modifications for improvement of the environment.

Funding: The feasibility phase is fully federally funded up to $100,000. Any costs beyond that amount—and all costs for the design and implementation phases—are typically split 50% federal and 50% non-federal, subject to annual federal program limits and per-project caps. 

Cost share: 

• Feasibility Phase: The first $100,000 is fully federally funded. Any additional feasibility costs are shared equally—50% federal and 50% non-federal—after a Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) is signed
• Design & Implementation Phase: These costs are typically split 65% federal and 35% non-federal, with some exceptions.
• Operations & Maintenance: For all project types, these costs are the full responsibility of the non-federal sponsor.

• Filter — In-kind Contributions: For several authorities, the non-federal sponsor’s cost share may include cash, work-in-kind or a combination of both.

Application process: 

• Requests for assistance should be in the form of a letter describing the location and nature of the problem and requesting assistance under the program. 
• Point of contacts for each authority, and sample letters of intent can be found here.