Department of Homeland Security - FEMA grants

This grant will fund projects to identify capability gaps and implement solutions for alert and warning to deliver timely public warning and emergency information and to protect critical infrastructure. There are rapid changes in technology, cybersecurity threats, and public preferences for consuming content, recipients will work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to explore currently available, flexible, innovative, and forward-looking capabilities to craft and disseminate emergency alerts and warnings across existing and new distribution pathways, including streaming services, sirens, giant-voice systems, satellites, internet-connected devices, and other solutions.

The purpose of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 NIMS Cooperative Agreement is to support EMAC, which is a congressionally ratified mutual aid compact (Pub. L. No. 104-321). The “purpose of the compact is to provide for mutual assistance between the states entering into the compact in managing any emergency disaster that is duly declared by the Governor of the affected state, whether arising from natural disaster, technological hazard, man-made disaster, civil emergency aspects of resources shortages, community disorders, insurgency or enemy attack.” The FY 2026 NIMS Cooperative Agreement The NIMS-EMAC NOFO addresses the challenge of closing funding gaps for EMAC operations, ensuring a swift and coordinated response to emergent threats and disasters. The success of EMAC rests on sustaining, maintaining and improving its operational capability and the capabilities and implementation of its members. It seeks to solve the problem of fragmented emergency management efforts by strengthening interconnectivity and collaboration between federal agencies and non-federal partners. The NIMS-EMAC NOFO supports Mission 5: Build a Resilient Nation and Respond to Incidents, Objective 5.2: Strengthen National Resilience, and Objective 5.4: Enhance Training and Readiness of First Responders, of the DHS 2023 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR). Specifically, it aims to streamline the integration and coordination of resources during crises, allowing for quicker adaptation and mobilization across various jurisdictions.

The BioWatch program, managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, is designed to detect aerosolized biological attacks by continuously monitoring the air for specific biological threats using strategically placed air collectors. This federally managed, locally operated system provides early warnings of biological incidents, enabling state and local authorities to respond quickly and effectively, thereby reducing casualties and fatalities. BioWatch supports the National Biodefense Strategy and Implementation Plan (2022) by informing decision-making, enhancing preparedness, and providing post-incident support to limit the impacts of biological threats. Operating in over 30 metropolitan areas across 22 states, BioWatch protects roughly one-third of the U.S. population and extends its coverage to high-visibility special events. Its core activities include operating air samplers, collecting and analyzing air samples, assisting partners with planning and preparedness through guidance, training, and exercises, and alerting and coordinating response actions upon detection of a threat. The program’s objectives are to maintain a robust biodetection capability, engage stakeholders in preparedness and response, and establish coordination mechanisms across federal, state, local, and tribal levels to ensure rapid and effective public health responses to bioterrorist attacks. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is for the performance of field operations--including deploying and maintaining a fleet of air monitoring units, collecting and replacing filters from those units, and transporting filters daily to BioWatch laboratories in metropolitan areas identified below. As optional for specific metropolitan areas listed below, field operations further include laboratory operations, such as sample processing, analysis, and results reporting. Eligible recipients of this cooperative agreement are state and local government agencies, regional governmental organizations, public institutions of higher learning, and federally recognized tribal governments.

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) is a coordinating program for earthquake monitoring, research, implementation, education, and outreach activities developed and conducted by these four agencies:  • Federal Emergency Management Agency • National Institute of Standards and Technology • National Science Foundation, and • U.S. Geological Survey ​FEMA awards competitive grants to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education that possess the critical skills necessary to develop and implement regional (multi-state) and/or national earthquake risk mitigation activities on behalf of states and territories participating in the FEMA NEHRP State Assistance program.This notice funds multi-state and national activities and is not intended to assist any one particular state or territory. Priorities include: Support for the Eastern and Western assistance regions; Support for Seismic Community Professional Development; Support for Business Sector Outreach; and Support for the annual earthquake preparedness drills (ShakeOut) for individuals and communities.​ All activities funded by the MSNEA grant program must be consistent with the NEHRP vision, mission, and strategic goals.

The CAP-SSSE program provides funding to ensure adoption and enforcement of standards consistent with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) minimum criteria in participating and flood-prone communities. This cooperative agreement strives to empower states and territories to own and effectively manage their flood risk and reduce exposure, disaster costs, and recovery demands by providing planning flexibility, tools and best practices, and FEMA expertise to support implementation of their NFIP programs.  This cooperative agreement funds NFIP Coordinating Agencies to conduct specific activities in support of NFIP administration and enables independent investment to build capacity and capability in line with the provisions set forth in 44 C.F.R. § 60.25.

In accordance with the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, the Superintendent of the National Fire Academy (NFA) delivers training in cooperation with the State fire service training agencies. This cooperation includes the State Fire Training Systems Grant (SFTSG) program providing grants to pay for: the direct delivery of government-funded coursed in the states; the distribution and sharing of Student Manuals, Instructor Guides, and other course materials; and funding to the states to help supplement and tailor their training delivery needs using NFA courses and programs.

SBSRF, authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (Public Law 119-21), was established to address the urgent need for robust and adaptable border security solutions at the state and local levels. SBSRF is a flexible hybrid program designed to reinforce the nation’s border by empowering states and local governments to meet evolving security challenges. Program objectives include: • Construction or deployment of a border wall, border barrier, or buoys along the southern border of the United States. • Any work necessary to prepare the ground at or near land borders to allow construction and maintenance of a border barrier • Detection and interdiction of illicit substances and aliens who have unlawfully entered the United States and have committed a crime under Federal, State, or local law. • Relocation of aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States from population centers to other domestic locations.

The Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized tribal governments, and local governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in participating communities. FMA funds a variety of flood mitigation activities that are designed to reduce flood risk to policyholders in an effort to reduce the NFIP’s financial exposure. Applicants can submit applications for this funding opportunity through FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO). Access the system at https://go.fema.gov/

FY 2024 FMA Swift Current aims to better align the delivery of FMA flood mitigation funding to the disaster survivor experience. The FMA grant program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized Indian/Native American Tribal Governments, and local governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and within NFIP-participating communities. FMA funds a variety of flood mitigation activities that are designed to reduce flood risk to NFIP policyholders in an effort to reduce the NFIP’s financial exposure.  Applicants can submit applications for this funding opportunity through FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO). Access the system at https://go.fema.gov/.

FMA Swift Current aims to better align the delivery of FMA flood mitigation funding to the disaster survivor experience. The FMA grant program makes federal funds available to states, U.S. territories, federally recognized Indian/Native American Tribal Governments, and local governments to reduce or eliminate the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and within NFIP-participating communities. FMA funds a variety of flood mitigation activities that are designed to reduce flood risk to NFIP policyholders in an effort to reduce the NFIP’s financial exposure.