FEMA Announces 2012 Community Resilience Innovation Challenge

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Federal Emergency Management Agency

Intergovernmental Affairs Advisory

September 27, 2012

FEMA ANNOUNCES 2012 COMMUNITY RESILIENCE INNOVATION CHALLENGE

Application Period Open for Funding to Increase Local Resiliency through Whole Community Approach

WASHINGTON-Today,
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that the
application period is open for a new funding opportunity to build local
resilience, through a Whole Community approach, in communities across
America: the Community Resilience Innovation Challenge.

Though National Preparedness Month comes to a close at the end of
September, FEMA and its partners know that preparedness must continue in
communities year-round. This new monetary opportunity is designed to
continue to move community preparedness forward and assist local areas
in building and revitalizing community-based partnerships to advance the
nation’s resilience to disasters.

“The best resiliency ideas originate in our states and communities –
not from Washington, DC,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “The
goal of this program is to empower communities to collaborate and
develop innovative ways to effectively respond to disasters.”

The opportunity is provided through the Rockefeller Foundation and
FEMA and will be administered by the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness
Foundation who will act as a third-party intermediary to encourage local
communities to engage in creative activities that enhance disaster
resilience. Funding levels will range, with a maximum award of $35,000,
and applications are open to most local, state, and tribal agencies and
governments; business entities; associations; organizations and groups.
Submissions will be accepted through October 26.

Key assessment areas for the awards will be the applicants’
demonstration that their approach to community resilience is innovative,
collaborative with community stakeholders, sustainable, repeatable-in
that the approach enables other communities to replicate their
successful outcomes-and beneficial to the community in measurable ways.

FEMA recognizes that a government-centric approach to disaster
management is insufficient to meet the challenges posed by a
catastrophic incident. To meet our Nation’s preparedness goals, the
Whole Community must be actively involved in all phases of the
preparedness, response, and recovery cycle. These awards are designed to
invest in and enhance the Whole Community effort.

Additional information on the Challenge program criteria and application process can be found at https://ww.fema.gov and https://www.ResilienceChallenge.org.

View the Challenge Program Flyer here. [.pdf]

Download the Challenge Application here. [.doc]