Purpose
The purpose of this activity is to identify resources that will meet the community’s selected projects specific needs. Each incident will differ in terms of the sources and quantities of money, people, and materials that are available. Recovery leaders and organizations work with community stakeholders to identify and secure these resources during the recovery planning process.
Why?
Communities must seek support and interest from agencies and organizations willing to invest in a project, a community, and a process. Since most available funding through agencies and organizations is competitive, communities must distinguish themselves and their respective projects from among other projects competing for the same funding resources.
When?
Upon completion of the Initial Damage Assessment, or as soon as it is determined that long-term community recovery efforts will be needed. (Days 31-120)
Tips
Develop relationships with potential partnership (and funding) agencies. These relationships allow the community to fully understand the policies, timelines, limitations, and parameters of the partnering agencies. It also allows the community to communicate and "sell" the project and the scope of redevelopment to the partnering agency.
How does my community do this?
- Identify potential local funding sources that will provide matching funds for securing grants. Start local! Are there funding opportunities from the community's General Fund? From potential bond issues? From a Capital Improvement Fund? To encourage stakeholders, a community must demonstrate its commitment and active participation in the project. Once this review has occurred you can investigate funding, technical assistance, or other resources from various sources such as Public Agencies (Local, State, Federal), Not-For-Profit Agencies and Private Foundations, the business community. and other organizations or entities (The Trust For Public Land, Habitat for Humanity, and a local/regional Community Foundation or Public or private Colleges or Universities).
- Develop and implement a funding strategy. When considering the funding aspect of a project, there are two important strategies to consider: 1) Make sure the funding program or resource matches the recovery project and 2) Be prepared to make adjustments to the project scope, scale, timing, or phasing to ensure access to available resources.
- Document all disaster impacts (i.e., damage and destruction of critical infrastructure, business buildings, and homes, displacement of community members, etc.) in case the disaster impacts rise to the level that the community may become eligible for Federal disaster relief through a Presidential major disaster declaration. The DHSEM and Governor’s office will need all documentation of impacts to prepare an application to the President for a major disaster declaration.
- Should there be a Presidential declaration: Identify potential Federal recovery funding programs. Some of these include the US Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Economic Development Administration (EDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), related state departments and agencies. FEMA provides recovery funding through two primary disaster assistance programs: Individual Assistance and Public Assistance. In addition, identify potential hazard mitigation funding sources primarily from FEMA. Hazard Mitigation can be a key component of your LTCR strategy, and there are several funding sources for implementing hazard mitigation techniques and projects.