2023 BRIC Awards Include Historic $137 million for Building Codes!
Now in its fourth year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program has developed a specific stream of funding that will be focused on building code adoption and enforcement. The Agency has made available up to $2 million per state and territory and up to $25 million for tribal governments.
Click here for a fact sheet on the FY2023 BRIC program.
What Can You Do Now?
The International Code Council hosted a webinar to help communities take advantage of these resources with FEMA’s BRIC program lead on November 9th, access the presentation slides here. The Code Council also hosted a Deep Dive into BRIC Building Codes Plus up and how to apply in FEMA GO. Click here to access the recording, click here to access the presentation slides.
Determine whether your state has a BRIC pre-application deadline. Click here for ICC Database of State Deadlines or contact your State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO) to confirm. State applications are due to FEMA by February 29th, 2024. Note: Local governments must apply through their states.
Identify your department’s needs that qualify for BRIC funding. Eligible activities include:
- Purchasing print or online publications to support building code activities.
- Code official training and certification, including ICC’s When Disaster Strikes Institute.
- Electronic permitting, virtual inspection technology, and remote building codes administration.
- Building department accreditation.
- Consulting services to support activities related to building codes, including adoptions and updates.
Reach out to your jurisdiction’s Mitigation or Emergency Management Officer, or grant writer (if applicable), share your department’s needs, and discuss the application process.
Coordinate with applicable state agencies.
Need Help?
Don’t hesitate to contact us at federalgrants@iccsafe.org for additional information on BRIC and developing your grant application as well as past examples of success code department applications. Click the button below to schedule a consult with ICC’s grants guru, Stella Carr.
General questions about the BRIC program can be directed to the appropriate State Hazard Mitigation Officer or FEMA Regional Office.
Highlights of Past BRIC Grant Cycles
Through the first three BRIC cycles (FY20, FY 21, and FY22), FEMA awarded $7.8 million dollars spread across 40 code-related awards. Successful project awards can be found here.
Past grants have funded a range of activities, from virtual inspections in St. Paul, MN and building inspection and code enforcement accreditation in Lexington, KY to code enforcement training in Maine and a statewide offering of the When Disaster Strikes Institute in Virginia.