The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law established both the PROTECT Formula and Discretionary Grant Programs. The PROTECT Discretionary Grants Program funds projects on a competitive basis that address the climate crisis by … Read more
The Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) Program allows FEMA to fund capitalization grants to establish revolving loan funds for direct hazard mitigation assistance to local governments to reduce risk from natural hazards.
Eligible Uses
To promote an entity-led program, FEMA is not limiting eligible uses beyond the limitations established in the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act. Eligible uses include:
- Mitigation Activities: projects that reduce the impact of natural hazards, zoning and land-use planning changes, and building code enforcement.
- Non-federal Cost-Share: loans may satisfy a local government’s non-federal cost share requirement for other FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs.
- Local government technical assistance: entities may provide technical assistance to local governments applying for and receiving loans, which shall not exceed 5% of the capitalization grant received.
- Entity administrative costs: entities may use a portion of the capitalization grant for administrative costs associated with the revolving loan fund. Covered administrative costs may not exceed the following limits of whichever is greatest: $100,000 per year; 2% of the capitalization grants made in that fiscal year; or 1% of the value of the entity loan fund.
FEMA is also authorized to set-aside 2.5% of available funds for technical assistance to eligible entities, cover administrative costs, and provide capitalization grants to insular areas, including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Eligible Recipients
States, federally recognized tribes, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia are eligible recipients to award loans directly to local communities. Any of the 20 federally recognized Tribal Nations that FEMA has identified as having received major disaster declarations are eligible to directly apply. All Tribal Nations and Tribal entities that are not federally recognized tribes that are located within a participating entity (e.g., state), may apply for a loan under that entity’s revolving loan fund. Local communities may also apply to participating entities for low-interest loans, so long as loan recipients have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan.
Approx Annual Funding Amount
For the 2023 calendar year, FEMA intends to provide $50 million for the first year. Over the next five years, FEMA will issue at least $472.5 million to establish revolving loan funds. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provided $500 million total to establish this program.
Cost Share Requirements
The participating state, territorial, or Tribal government must contribute at least 10% of the capitalization grant into an established entity loan fund.
Application Cycle
For the first year, the Notice of Funding Opportunity was released on December 21, 2022. The application period will be open from February 1, 2023 to April 28, 2023.
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Other Info
To be eligible, applicants must complete a capitalization grant application, develop an Intended Use Plan, and a local government project proposal list. Applicants must also have a FEMA-approved State or Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan.
