Michigan Opens Federal Disaster Mitigation Grant Program After Court Victory Restores Funding to West Michigan Communities

Michigan communities facing natural disasters have a new tool for protection as the state opens a federal grant program designed to help reduce damage from floods, tornadoes and severe storms.

The Michigan State Police, Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division announced the opening of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program for fiscal year 2025 on April 2, 2026. The program is now accepting project proposals from eligible applicants across the state including local governments in West Michigan.

BRIC funding provides communities the opportunity to take proactive steps to reduce risk before disaster strikes, said Col. James F. Grady II, director of the Michigan State Police and state director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. By investing in infrastructure and mitigation now, we help protect lives, safeguard critical services and ensure Michigan communities grow stronger and more resilient for the future.

The announcement follows a federal court order requiring the restoration of the BRIC program after it was terminated in December 2025. On March 6, 2026, the court ordered FEMA to reverse the termination and make funding available as required by law.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined a coalition of states in securing the court order to restore the program. She noted that every dollar FEMA spends on mitigation saves six dollars in post-disaster costs.

By securing these court orders, we've cleared the way for critical BRIC funding to flow back into our state, allowing the Michigan State Police to resume the work of fortifying our communities against natural disasters, said Nessel. I look forward to seeing the life-saving impact of this next round of proposals.

FEMA has selected nearly 2,000 projects nationwide totaling approximately four point five billion dollars in BRIC funding over the past several years. In Michigan, 22 projects have been selected in recent years, totaling more than 19 million dollars in federal funding.

For fiscal year 2025, BRIC funding includes three categories:

• Hazard Mitigation Projects Nationally competitive funding for cost-effective infrastructure and construction projects designed to increase resilience and public safety and reduce damage to property and critical facilities. Only projects with at least a conceptual design are eligible. Phased projects are not eligible.

• Building Code Plus-Up Funding to support the adoption and enforcement of current hazard-resistant building codes, including evaluation, adoption and workforce development activities related to building codes.

• State Allocation Funding Available to each state for smaller-scale hazard mitigation projects and project scoping for future infrastructure mitigation efforts.

Most grants are funded with a 75 percent federal share and a 25 percent non-federal match. The MSP/EMHSD serves as the applicant for the State of Michigan. Eligible subapplicants include state agencies, federally recognized tribal governments and local governments.

West Michigan communities including Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Holland, and Battle Creek are eligible to submit proposals through the MSP/EMHSD. The division coordinates emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation activities across the state and works closely with local, tribal, state and federal partners to help protect Michigan residents and communities.

Applicants can find resources on preparing for and responding to emergencies on MIREADY and follow MSP/EMHSD on X and Facebook for updates.

It's about being proactive, before disaster strikes, and doing so has proven to reduce long-term risks. It can save money and protect communities long-term, said MSP/EMHSD Public Information Officer Clayton Cummins.

The first step for a municipality to apply is to fill out a notice of intent form that must be completed and submitted by April 29, 2026.