AUGUST 1st DEADLINE FOR FEDERAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE GRANT OPPORTUNITY

************* AUGUST 1st DEADLINE FOR FEDERAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE GRANT OPPORTUNITY **************

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo recently announced a call for projects to be funded by the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to assist local governments and non-profit organizations rebuild stronger, more resilient communities across the state. These efforts are aimed at increasing the State’s resiliency, mitigating the risks of loss and damage associated with future disasters, and reducing hardship. Over $500 million is expected to be available for the program.

After a Presidential disaster declaration, as in the case of Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and Superstorm Sandy, FEMA provides HMGP funds for States to administer grant programs that support local hazard mitigation planning and long-term hazard mitigation measures to reduce the loss of life and damage to improved property from natural disasters.  Through the HMGP program, the State will help to fund innovative mitigation measures that protect communities, while at the same time stimulating local economic growth and serving other objectives. Local officials and non-profit organizations are encouraged to develop such proposals in the form of a Letter of Intent (LOI) in the areas identified below.

Interested eligible sub-applicants must use the official Letters of Intent (LOIs) form to register for this grant cycle.  It is available online at www.nysandyhelp.ny.gov/content/hazard-mitigation-grant-program-hmgp-0. LOIs for all HMGP activities are due Thursday, August 1, 2013 by 11:59 pm.

The State will make the HMGP available statewide and across a range of sectors, giving preference to proposals that:

• Are in a county that was covered by a declaration of emergency in Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee or Superstorm Sandy.
• Ensure continuity of critical services by reducing the risk of damage and loss of function from flooding and other hazards (including storm surge) at government, private non-profit and, in certain cases, private sector facilities.
• Protect and enhance the reliability and resilience of transportation, communications or energy infrastructure through traditional or innovative mitigation measures: for example, by burying vulnerable power lines or installing outage management systems; storm-proofing vulnerable cell towers with back-up power systems to ensure uninterrupted communications in emergencies; protecting rail or road corridors against flooding; or mitigating scour-critical bridges or culverts.
• Provide green, natural or innovative technological solutions to long-term threats: for example, by constructing or reinforcing natural barriers to protect coastal communities; implementing new technologies to minimize damage to facilities in floodplains; and purchasing and modifying land to provide buffer zones to protect communities and their infrastructure.
• Implement permanent back-up power systems to ensure continuity of power during and after a disaster: for example, by installing combined heat and power (CHP) systems in a critical facility serving vulnerable populations; or wiring for generators to ensure capacity to maintain power during and after such a disaster.
• Implement eligible mitigation recommendations made by the NYS Ready, the NYS Respond, or the NYS 2100 Commissions (see www.governor.ny.gov/NYS2100Commission), or those identified by a county’s assessment of its emergency response capacity.
• Enhance the ability of the State and/or local governments to monitor rain, streams and/or tides, to provide advance flood warnings and evacuation notices, or to provide other situational awareness during a disaster: for example, by installing stream/water level monitoring system to provide evacuation alerts.
• Provide training for local floodplain administrators and code officials to perform post-storm inspections required under local law and State Code to speed recovery.
• Realize permanent flood mitigation solutions: Removing structures from a floodplain, or relocating them to higher ground. This includes the acquisition of homes damaged after June 30, 2012 that do not qualify for existing NYS or NYC housing recovery programs for survivors of Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.

 FEMA funds provide 75% reimbursement of eligible costs, up to the amount of the award. In-kind services or materials may be used toward the 25% non-Federal match. While most Federal funds cannot be used for the non-Federal match, there are exceptions and the State may provide matching funds in certain circumstances for eligible projects. For more information about the HMGP, including all program requirements and a listing of eligible activities, see FEMA’s 2011 Guidance document at www.dhses.ny.gov/oem/mitigation/documents/FY2011-HMA-Unified_Guidance.pdf.

Private individuals and businesses may not apply for the HMGP, but eligible applicants may apply on their behalf. Collaborative and creative public-private approaches are strongly encouraged in this HMGP.

If you plan to submit a letter of intent or have any questions about this program, please email NYS DEC's Office of Environmental Justice with "HMGP" as the subject line.  ej@gw.dec.state.ny.us