The Challenge
Through this project, MEMA utilized vendor support to provide assistance in community project development and technical review of grant applications. As a part of this process, the vendor helped to identify project components that increased the level of protection utilizing the latest climate change data. This work helped to reduce climate impacts for projects that were ultimately awarded by FEMA. Additionally, social justice communities were prioritized in the project ranking process.
Project Scope
Through this project, a vendor was hired to provide assistance for the development and implementation of strategies to maximize Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) and Project funding available to state and local government applicants for an HMA grant program, and to maximize Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) grant outcomes including evaluation criteria utilized to score proposals. This will also include provision of technical review assessments of municipal grant applications received including but not limited to engineering and technical feasibility of proposed project, validation of benefits and impacts proposed, budget and losses avoid, evaluation of environmental permitting requirements, and regulatory feasibility.
Amongst the intended resilience benefits, this project seeks to address existing climate change resilience goals by enhancing local and state government resiliency to natural hazards and climate change through the identification and development of natural hazard mitigation activities. Vendor support was used to strengthen HMA applications for projects which reduce the impacts of natural hazards and climate change by increasing the level of protection to communities and other grant applicants. This project will incorporate the best-available climate change data and modeling for the Commonwealth during HMA application development.
This project will continue into FY25 (and beyond) with funding from FEMA State Management Costs. This technical assistance work will continue for all FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants (HMGP, BRIC, FMA, LPDM, and LPDM Swift Current).
Metrics
Metrics to determine the effectiveness of this project include the number of sub-applications submitted to FEMA under the BRIC and FMA grant programs and number of projects funded by FEMA.
Results
Community support for this project has been overwhelmingly popular; the ability of MEMA to offer Technical Assistance to municipalities in developing FEMA HMA sub-applications helps bridge the gap for those communities which may not have the expertise in-house or funding to hire their own vendor. Massachusetts has had 12 sub-applications identified for further review by FEMA under FY22 BRIC (state allocation). Massachusetts also had three competitive projects identified for further review. These are currently in the “Request for Information” (RFI) process and expect to be awarded within the next twelve months.
Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Engaging vendor support during accelerated grant application significantly enhances the Commonwealth’s capacity to support municipalities in developing eligible FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance project sub-applications.
Vendor support has been particularly helpful with respect to the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. This grant program caters to large resilience infrastructure projects, and it has been helpful have subject matter experts on contract to review technical documentation.
Project Alignment with SHMCAP and ResilientMass Plan Priority Actions
This project advanced the following 2018 SHMCAP Actions:
- Apply for available federal HMA funding to implement and update the completed and approved multi-jurisdictional and local hazard mitigation plans.
- Partner with stakeholders in Massachusetts to develop and implement regional and local multi-hazard mitigation plans by providing training and technical assistance.
Further Action
This project will continue through FY24 to assist Massachusetts in pursuing FEMA FY23 BRIC and FMA funding this fall / winter.
This project resulted in FY22 Building Resilient Infrastructure & Communities (BRIC) applications for the following sub-applicants: Acton, Avon, Berkshire Medical Center, Brockton, Chelsea / Everett, Clarksburg, Clinton, Danvers, Fall River, Fitchburg, Gloucester, Hopkinton Fire Dept, Ipswich, Marshfield, MBTA, Melrose, Milton, Rockport, Scituate, Somerville, Swansea, and Weymouth. Projects identified for further review include MBTA, Chelsea/Everett, and Avon.