Trump administration cancels $90M in BRIC aid for Mass.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency in mid-April cancelled the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program for fiscal 2024 and said no pending applications will be reviewed or awarded.

FEMA also called for any BRIC funds from fiscal 2020 through 2023 not yet distributed to be returned to the Disaster Relief Fund or the U.S. Treasury.

Gov. Maura Healey criticized the abrupt cancellation of the disaster prevention aid, which revoked $90 million for 18 communities, a regional planning commission and two state agencies in Massachusetts.

“In recent years, Massachusetts communities have been devastated by severe storms, flooding and wildfires,” the governor said in a prepared statement on April 16. “We rely on FEMA funding to not only rebuild but also take steps to protect against future extreme weather.”

According to the National League of Cities, BRIC projects that are fully obligated and under construction may proceed to completion and expend remaining funds. Projects that are fully obligated but not yet started will be terminated.

FEMA regions will coordinate with recipients on next steps for phased projects, the NLC reports. Management costs will continue only for partially or fully obligated projects, and no deadline extensions will be granted without administrator approval.

BRIC is an annual FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant funded by FEMA and administered in Massachusetts through a partnership with the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. BRIC makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal governments, and local governments for hazard mitigation activities, which have become more important in recent years given the increase in extreme weather events caused by climate change.

BRIC funding is used to upgrade roads, bridges, buildings and green spaces to mitigate risk and prevent future disasters. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said the funding is needed to make “our communities more resilient.”

“We need the federal government to uphold their end of the bargain,” she said.

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper said every dollar invested in resilience now saves $13 in avoided damages and adverse economic impacts.

Massachusetts municipalities and agencies expected to be impacted by the cancellation of the BRIC program include Boston, Brockton, Chelsea and Everett (a joint project), North Adams, Rockport, and Wilbraham, to name a few, for projects such as culvert improvements, coastal flood resilience, a pump station generator, building code activities, road corridor resilient design, and permitting process upgrades.

The governor said the cities and towns have been working closely with FEMA for years to advance these projects, which the federal government has already appropriated funds to support. For instance, she said, cities and towns have moved forward with expensive permitting applications and engineering and design plans, due to FEMA’s identification of their project as a future recipient of BRIC funds.

The NLC reports that FEMA is developing a replacement to BRIC.

For questions or assistance, contact FEMA Intergovernmental Affairs at 202-646‑3444 or FEMA‑IGA@fema.dhs.gov.