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FEMA BRIC uncertainty puts local BRIC planning grants and hazard mitigation scheduling at risk
Summary
RiverCog members were told FEMA has rescinded or is reviewing certain BRIC funds; CTDOT/state BRIC representatives advised recipients without drawn funds to prepare for deobligation and urged quick submission of reimbursement paperwork. RiverCog agreed to schedule hazard‑mitigation planning meetings but cautioned against expenditures until the funding picture clears.
RiverCog members discussed immediate uncertainty around FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) funds after state and congressional staff reported the BRIC program was being curtailed and some previously announced NOFOs rescinded.
A RiverCog member noted the council had a FY23 BRIC planning grant to update its Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and asked whether the contract and planning work remain viable. A state/BRIC representative (unnamed in the transcript) explained that BRIC planning awards are reimbursable: the state or subrecipient must incur eligible costs and submit reimbursement requests to receive federal funds. The representative said recipients that have not drawn funds yet should be prepared not to receive the money and encouraged quick submission of reimbursement requests where eligible paperwork already exists.
The state representative added that if projects were part of a phased award, funding would likely be limited to the phase that was already completed or obligated; subsequently proposed phases might not be funded. CTDOT staff said the deputy commissioner and the agency CFO were working to provide further guidance and communications to grantees, and urged recipients to compile reimbursement paperwork promptly.
RiverCog discussed operational choices: staff recommended scheduling planning meetings (regional kickoff and town meetings) to avoid falling behind if funding were later restored, but board members agreed to schedule meetings while limiting expenditures pending definitive guidance. Staff noted some contract‑time can be invoiced to the state and that consultants had proposed lower‑cost alternatives to keep planning progress without large cash outlays.
Why it matters: De‑obligation or rescission of BRIC funds would directly affect local hazard‑mitigation planning and infrastructure projects statewide. For RiverCog, the planning grant supports an update to the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (targeted completion Sept 2026) that can affect eligibility for future resilience funding and project implementation.
What's next: State emergency management and CTDOT will continue to coordinate with grantees and issue guidance. RiverCog staff advised towns to submit reimbursement paperwork quickly and to monitor agency communications; the council opted to schedule planning meetings while avoiding irreversible expenditures until the funding status is clarified.
