The Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program provides technical and planning support to states, tribes, and localities across USACE mission areas, including flood risk management. These efforts help reduce future flood damage, strengthen water resilience, and guide long-term planning.

Supports nature-based solutions

Has a regional or watershed focus

Application cycle: USACE accepts applications on an ongoing basis.

Summary: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Planning Assistance to States (PAS) program helps states, tribes, and local communities access USACE technical experts to develop comprehensive plans for managing flood risk, restoring ecosystems, and securing water supplies. This program is a good fit for communities that need to analyze water-related problems and identify potential solutions, such as developing a watershed-wide flood mitigation plan or assessing how nature-based solutions can reduce risk. This program does not fund project design or construction, but lays the groundwork for future resilience projects.

Eligible applicants: States, a group of states, territories, regional coalitions of government entities, federally recognized Tribal nations, and other non-federal entities such as non-profit organizations. 

Eligible activities: Assistance from the PAS program is for planning-level studies and does not include funding for project design or construction. Activities include:

• Comprehensive plans: Developing state, regional, or watershed-level plans to manage and conserve water resources. These plans can address a wide range of challenges, including flood risk and long-term water supply sustainability.
• Technical assistance: Providing data and analysis to support state and local planning efforts. This can include analyzing changing hydrologic and flood conditions, and incorporating flood resilience into state hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness plans. This program can be used to evaluate the potential for nature-based solutions. 

Funding: N/A, this is a technical assistance program.

Cost share: 

• Comprehensive plans: 50% federal / 50% non-federal, paid by direct funds or in-kind services.
• Technical assistance: 50% federal / 50% non-federal, paid by direct funds only.
• Non-federal partners can contribute beyond the cost-shared amount if they wish to increase the scope of work beyond what the federally budgeted amount can support.

Application process: Requests for assistance are to be submitted as a letter, which includes the location and problem to be investigated, to an applicant’s local USACE district office. A sample letter is available online. The typical timeframe for completing work under a PAS agreement is one to two years.