Opportunity Information: Apply for TBD STORM
The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund Program (STORM RLF) is a new FEMA initiative designed to help governments finance hazard mitigation work before disasters strike, using a revolving loan model rather than traditional one-time grants. FEMA plans to award capitalization grants to eligible entities so they can set up and run their own hazard mitigation revolving loan funds. Once established, those funds can provide low-interest loans to local governments to carry out projects that reduce long-term disaster risk for households, businesses, nonprofits, and whole communities. A key feature is that these loans can also be used to cover the non-federal cost-share (match) required for other FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs, which can make it easier for local communities to participate in larger mitigation grant opportunities.
This announcement is a Notice of Intent (NOI), meaning FEMA is signaling that a full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be released later, and it is giving potential applicants time to prepare. FEMA indicated the NOFO was expected later in the year, with an anticipated application deadline in spring 2023 (the source data lists an original closing date of 2023-05-31). For the first round, FEMA expects to make available no less than $50 million. Over the next five years, FEMA plans additional funding rounds totaling at least $472.5 million in capitalization grants. This program is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), which appropriated $500 million total to STORM RLF, including program setup costs.
Eligible applicants for the capitalization grants are states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and certain Indian Tribal Governments. Tribal eligibility is tied to having received a major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act within the five-year period ending January 1, 2021. FEMA refers to these eligible applicants as "entities." The basic structure is that FEMA funds entities to capitalize a revolving loan fund, and then the entity lends to local governments. The goal is to create an ongoing financing tool: as loans are repaid, the money cycles back into the fund and can be re-lent for additional mitigation projects over time.
A major reason FEMA issued the NOI is that the statute sets up several requirements that take time to meet before applying. The revolving loan fund must be administered by the agency responsible for emergency management (as required by 42 U.S.C. 5135(c)). Some states may be able to use or adapt existing loan mechanisms to satisfy this requirement, but FEMA noted that specifics will be clarified through stakeholder engagement and in the final NOFO. Applicants also need to develop an Intended Use Plan (required by 42 U.S.C. 5135(g)) that lays out how the revolving loan fund will be used, along with local government project proposals (required by 42 U.S.C. 5135(b)) that the entity intends to support through loans.
FEMA also previewed specific application elements that will be required. Applications must include an Intended Use Plan and at least one project proposal request that has been publicly noticed for comment at least six weeks before the capitalization grant application is submitted. In addition, capitalization grant recipients must be ready to contribute to their own revolving loan fund: the statute requires depositing no less than 10 percent of the amount of the FEMA grant into the loan fund as a condition of receiving the award (42 U.S.C. 5135(c)(4)(A)). This is effectively a required recipient contribution tied to capitalization of the fund.
Beyond the funding itself, FEMA emphasized that it plans to actively support applicants and broaden participation, especially for disadvantaged communities that often face barriers to financing mitigation projects. FEMA stated it will work collaboratively with eligible entities to build their capability to run a revolving loan fund, including help with developing Intended Use Plans and preparing applications. FEMA is also planning extensive stakeholder engagement, including outreach in fall 2022, webinars, workshops, and participation in national conferences. The agency intends to use this engagement to gather feedback on how entities plan to use the program, what administrative capacity challenges they anticipate, and how FEMA can shape a more practical, customer-focused program.
For ongoing updates, FEMA directs stakeholders to the STORM RLF program webpage at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/storm-rlf. FEMA is also inviting comments and recommendations on program design via email at FEMA-STORMRLF@fema.dhs.gov. Key administrative details from the source listing include that this is a discretionary grant opportunity, the funding opportunity number was listed as TBD at the time of the NOI, and the CFDA/Assistance Listing number is 97.139.Apply for TBD STORM
- The Department of Homeland Security - FEMA in the other sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent to Publish a Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcement for the Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 97.139.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2022-08-29.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2023-05-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: State governments, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Others.
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STORM RLF (FEMA) Grant Opportunity FAQs
1) What is the STORM Revolving Loan Fund (STORM RLF) Program?
The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund Program (STORM RLF) is a FEMA initiative that helps governments finance hazard mitigation work before disasters happen. Instead of a one-time grant model for projects, it uses a revolving loan fund approach: FEMA provides capitalization grants to eligible entities so they can set up and run their own hazard mitigation revolving loan funds, which then issue low-interest loans for mitigation projects.
2) How is this different from traditional FEMA hazard mitigation grants?
Traditional mitigation grants are generally one-time awards for specific projects. STORM RLF is designed as an ongoing financing tool: loans are made, repaid, and then the repaid funds can be re-lent to support additional mitigation projects over time.
3) Who receives money directly from FEMA under STORM RLF?
FEMA plans to award capitalization grants to eligible entities (FEMA refers to these applicants as "entities") so they can establish and operate a revolving loan fund.
4) Who are the eligible applicants for capitalization grants?
Eligible applicants for the capitalization grants include states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and certain Indian Tribal Governments. Tribal eligibility is tied to having received a major disaster declaration under the Stafford Act within the five-year period ending January 1, 2021.
5) Who is expected to receive the low-interest loans once an entity sets up a revolving loan fund?
Once an entity establishes its revolving loan fund using FEMA capitalization grant funds, that entity can provide low-interest loans to local governments to carry out hazard mitigation projects that reduce long-term disaster risk affecting households, businesses, nonprofits, and whole communities.
6) What types of activities are these loans intended to support?
The loans are intended to support hazard mitigation projects that reduce long-term disaster risk before disasters occur, including efforts that benefit households, businesses, nonprofits, and entire communities (as described in the opportunity summary).
7) Can STORM RLF loans be used for the non-federal cost-share (match) on other FEMA mitigation programs?
Yes. A key feature described in the opportunity is that these loans can also be used to cover the non-federal cost-share (match) required for other FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs. This can make it easier for local communities to participate in larger mitigation grant opportunities.
8) What does it mean that this announcement is a Notice of Intent (NOI)?
This announcement is a Notice of Intent (NOI), meaning FEMA is signaling that a full Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) will be released later. The NOI is intended to give potential applicants time to prepare for the later NOFO and its application requirements.
9) When was the full NOFO expected and what deadline was anticipated?
FEMA indicated the NOFO was expected later in the year, with an anticipated application deadline in spring 2023. The source data listed an original closing date of 2023-05-31.
10) How much funding is expected to be available?
For the first round, FEMA expects to make available no less than $50 million. Over the next five years, FEMA plans additional funding rounds totaling at least $472.5 million in capitalization grants.
11) What law funds the STORM RLF Program?
The program is funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (also called the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law), which appropriated $500 million total to STORM RLF, including program setup costs.
12) Why did FEMA issue the NOI instead of going straight to a NOFO?
FEMA explained that the underlying statute includes several requirements that take time to meet before an application can be submitted. The NOI is intended to give eligible entities time to prepare for those requirements and to participate in stakeholder engagement that will inform final program details.
13) Which agency must administer the revolving loan fund at the entity level?
The statute requires that the revolving loan fund be administered by the agency responsible for emergency management (referenced in the opportunity as 42 U.S.C. 5135(c)). FEMA noted that some states may be able to use or adapt existing loan mechanisms, and that details will be clarified through stakeholder engagement and in the final NOFO.
14) What is an Intended Use Plan and is it required?
An Intended Use Plan is a plan that lays out how the revolving loan fund will be used. The NOI indicates it is required by statute (referenced as 42 U.S.C. 5135(g)) and must be included as part of the capitalization grant application.
15) Are project proposals required as part of the application?
Yes. The NOI states that applicants need to develop local government project proposals (referenced as required by 42 U.S.C. 5135(b)) that the entity intends to support through loans.
16) Does the application need to include public notice and a comment period for project proposals?
Yes. FEMA previewed that applications must include at least one project proposal request that has been publicly noticed for comment at least six weeks before the capitalization grant application is submitted.
17) Is there a required recipient contribution or deposit to the revolving loan fund?
Yes. The statute requires depositing no less than 10 percent of the amount of the FEMA grant into the revolving loan fund as a condition of receiving the award (cited in the opportunity as 42 U.S.C. 5135(c)(4)(A)). The NOI describes this as effectively a required recipient contribution tied to capitalization of the fund.
18) What is the basic flow of funds in the STORM RLF model?
FEMA provides capitalization grants to eligible entities. The entity uses those funds (plus the required deposit contribution) to capitalize a revolving loan fund. The entity then makes low-interest loans to local governments for eligible hazard mitigation purposes. As loans are repaid, funds return to the revolving loan fund and can be loaned out again to support future mitigation projects.
19) What is FEMA doing to support applicants and encourage broader participation?
FEMA stated it plans to actively support applicants and broaden participation, especially for disadvantaged communities that often face barriers to financing mitigation projects. FEMA indicated it will work collaboratively with eligible entities to help build their capability to run a revolving loan fund, including help with developing Intended Use Plans and preparing applications.
20) What types of outreach or engagement did FEMA mention?
FEMA described planned stakeholder engagement including outreach in fall 2022, webinars, workshops, and participation in national conferences. FEMA intends to gather feedback on planned program use, administrative capacity challenges, and how to shape a more practical, customer-focused program.
21) Where can applicants and stakeholders find official updates?
FEMA directs stakeholders to the STORM RLF program webpage at https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/storm-rlf for ongoing updates.
22) How can stakeholders submit comments or recommendations on program design?
FEMA invited comments and recommendations via email at FEMA-STORMRLF@fema.dhs.gov.
23) What is the Assistance Listing (CFDA) number for this opportunity?
The CFDA/Assistance Listing number provided in the source information is 97.139.
24) Is this described as a discretionary grant opportunity?
Yes. The source listing indicated this is a discretionary grant opportunity.
25) Was a funding opportunity number provided in the NOI?
The funding opportunity number was listed as TBD at the time of the Notice of Intent.
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