Provo, Utah – Monday morning, FEMA and the State of Utah recognized three projects in the state that have been selected for federal funding under the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) competitive grant program. For the fiscal 2021 year, $1 billion was made available, with the three Utah projects receiving more than $100 million, or 10 percent of total funding nationwide.
“Public infrastructure can often be taken for granted, but it must operate as intended for our society to function properly,” said FEMA Region 8 Administrator Nancy Dragani. “Projects like these ensure daily life can continue in our communities even in the face of natural hazards.”
"This is a great example of a local, state and federal partnership. It is unprecedented for Utah to receive this level of funding for pre-disaster mitigation efforts," said Kris Hamlet, Director of Utah Division of Emergency Management. "It's important to remember that this BRIC funding, along with the local contribution, is an investment in the future of these communities, in the resilience of these communities when facing disaster. The completion of these projects will pay dividends in the quality of life for many years to come."
The selected projects include:
- $50 million to the City of Provo for a water supply project to address the threat of drought. The project will use excess water from the Provo River to recharge the Provo Aquifer. The award represents a 61 percent federal cost share, with $50 million being the maximum amount available under the program.
- $36.7 million to Salt Lake City for enhancements to a water treatment plant. The project includes several flood mitigation measures to facility components and a seismic retrofit for one building. The award represents a 70 percent federal cost share,
- $21.6 million to the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District for a parallel water pipeline for the Davis Aqueduct. The parallel line will use earthquake resistant steel pipe and be routed though less seismically sensitive areas, allowing continued service should the existing pipeline be damaged or blocked after a quake. The award represents a 40 percent federal cost share.
“Provo City has been recognized nationally for our forward-looking waterwise efforts,” said Mayor Michelle Kaufusi. “In the short-term by encouraging citizen water conservation, and in the long-run by focusing on ground water storage, re-use and other sustainable methods. FEMA’s support in constructing our water treatment facility is vital to our community’s drought resistance.”
In addition to the competitive grant funding, each state receives $1 million in allocated funds, which Utah used to fund 10 additional projects, consisting of scoping studies for larger projects and updates to local mitigation plans.
Additional information about the BRIC program can be found at www.fema.gov/bric.