Biden-Harris Administration Announces Third Opportunity to Help Communities Receive Low-Interest Loans for Resilience Projects from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Release Date Release Number
HQ-25-19
Release Date:
January 14, 2025

$178 Million is available for the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund 

WASHINGTON -- FEMA is announcing the third funding opportunity for the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) grant program to make communities safer from natural hazards. This program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides capitalization grants to eligible applicants nationwide.

States, territories, eligible Tribal Nations and the District of Columbia are eligible for a total of $178 million, the largest amount available in a single fiscal year for the program. Funding enables these entities to administer revolving loan funds that will help local governments carry out hazard mitigation projects and build community climate resilience. 

“Low-income communities are often the hardest hit in natural disasters,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, increased funding will now be more accessible to communities to help strengthen their resiliency against intensifying climate threats.”

Current participants are using funding in diverse ways, from addressing earthquakes, heat, floods and several other hazards. FEMA also designed the program to assist residents of communities who are at increased risk to these hazards.

As part of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.’s Investing in America agenda, states can direct loans to local governments through this program to mitigate the effects of events such as drought, intense heat, wildfires, floods and earthquakes. It is one of several Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs that fund improvements to make communities more resilient to natural hazards.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $500 million to fund the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program through fiscal year 2026, providing low-interest loans to local governments to reduce their vulnerability to disasters, foster greater resilience and reduce disaster impacts.

Eligible projects include construction or modification of natural or built infrastructure to increase resilience, building code adoption and enforcement, local zoning, land use planning changes and developing local hazard mitigation plans. Deferred maintenance of mitigation infrastructure and paying the non-federal cost share of other FEMA hazard mitigation projects are also eligible.

Emphasis on Local Communities, Tribal Nations

Entities that participate in the program may set loan terms for local communities that are more flexible, with up to 20 years for repayment. This provides a more accessible funding source for construction of resilience infrastructure than traditional financing options.

Revolving loans are intended to reach local governments most in need of financing assistance including, for example, low-income geographic areas. These areas have more flexible loan terms with up to 30 years for repayment. FEMA encourages governments to take full advantage of the broad range of activities and projects eligible through this program and include mitigation measures that are not typically submitted under other programs.

Also, $15 million has been set aside exclusively for Tribal Nations to ensure they have the opportunity to receive funds from the program. 

The Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF funding notice is available at Grants.gov. Eligible entities must apply for funding using the FEMA Grants Outcome (FEMA GO) system. Applications may be submitted a rolling basis through Sept. 30, 2025.

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