-                      -                        -                          -  FEMA Grants 
                        - Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants
                        -  Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants 
                        -  Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF Program                            -  Before You Apply 
                          -  When You Apply 
                          -  After You Apply 
                          -  Resources and Technical Assistance 
                          -  FY 2024 NOFO 
                        -  Notices of Funding Opportunities 
                        -  About Hazard Mitigation Assistance 
                        -  Resources for Applying 
                        -  Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) 
                        -  HMGP Post Fire 
                        -  Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) 
                        -  Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) 
                        -  Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program 
                        -  Preparedness Grants 
                        -  Resilience Grants 
                        -  Continuing Training Grants Program 
                        -  Emergency Food and Shelter Program 
                        -  Shelter and Services Program 

# Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund Program

                            - English 

The Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program is authorized under Section 205 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to provide capitalization grants to states, eligible federally recognized tribes, territories and the District of Columbia to establish revolving loan funds that provide hazard mitigation assistance for local governments to reduce risks from natural hazards and disasters.

News and Announcements

Applying for Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF Funds

Program Overview

### Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Opportunity

On Dec. 19, 2023, FEMA released a funding opportunity making available $150 million for the fiscal year 2024 Safeguarding Tomorrow through On-going Risk Mitigation Revolving Loan Fund program (Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF).

FEMA will provide grants to eligible applicants to award low-interest loans to communities to reduce their vulnerability to disasters, foster greater resilience and reduce disaster impacts.

The program's capitalization grants provide low-interest loans to local governments most in need of financial assistance, including low-income geographic areas and underserved communities.

Learn More About the Funding Opportunity

The Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program complements and supplements FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant portfolio to support mitigation projects at the local government level and increase the nation’s resilience to natural hazards and climate change.

These low interest loans will allow jurisdictions to reduce vulnerability to natural disasters, foster greater community resilience and reduce disaster suffering.

## News and Announcements

### Virtual Office Hours

Register for Office Hours

FEMA will host office hours sessions about the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund. These sessions will address many key programmatic elements and cover topics such as applying for the program and managing the revolving loan capitalization grants. We will provide answers to frequently asked questions and program area experts will be available to answer participants' questions.

### Fiscal Year 2023 Selections

On Sept. 12, 2023, FEMA announced selections for the $50 million made available in the first year of the new Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) program.

The program's capitalization grants provide low-interest loans to local governments most in need of financial assistance, including low-income geographic areas and underserved communities.

Learn More About the Selections

## Applying for Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF Funds

### Before You Apply

Materials and information are available to help entities that are interested in applying for Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF funds to create a revolving loan fund.

### When You Apply

Learn more about what happens during the application process.

### After You Apply

Learn more about the reporting and auditing processes for entities that establish revolving loan funds.

### Resources and Technical Assistance

Resources and technical assistance are available to entities that apply for Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF funds and wish to establish revolving loan funds.

## Program Overview

### Eligibility

The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act (STORM Act ) allows FEMA to award capitalization grants for eligible entities to make funding decisions and award loans directly to local communities.

Eligible entities are:
                            - States
                            - Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the District of Columbia
                            - Federally recognized tribes that received a direct major disaster declaration are eligible to apply for funding as an entity in this new program. Tribal entities may provide a loan to any authorized tribal organization, including a sub-component within their respective governmental structures. Additionally, Indian tribes located within a participating entity (such as a state or territory) may also apply for a loan under a participating entity’s revolving loan fund.

### Program Highlights

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) became law on Nov. 15, 2021, fully funding the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund program and appropriating **$500 million over five years**. This will last through fiscal year 2026.The program complements FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant portfolio to support mitigation projects at the local government level and increase the nation’s resilience to natural hazards and climate change.

In the inaugural year of the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund program, FEMA gave qualified applicants the opportunity to apply for up to $50 million in capitalization grants to create a revolving loan fund. Revolving loan funds are intended to reach local governments most in need of financial assistance, including low-income geographic areas and underserved communities.

FEMA will bridge the lessons learned throughout the first application cycle to make enhancements to the program and increase access. We anticipate releasing the next funding opportunity later this fall with higher amounts to encourage participation.

### Differences with the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF Program

In other Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs, states and federally recognized tribes are pass-through entities which route subapplicant requests to FEMA for review.

Through the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program, FEMA empowers entities to make funding decisions and award loans directly. The revolving loan funds that they create will help local governments carry out hazard mitigation projects that reduce disaster risks for homeowners, businesses, nonprofit organizations and communities to help them build climate resilience.
                        - FEMA will not limit or restrict project types beyond the limitations in statute.
                        - Loans may be used as a non-federal cost match for another HMA grant application.
                        - FEMA will not require entities to submit a benefit-cost analysis.

### Program Priorities

The priorities of the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program are to:
                        - Empower Entities.  FEMA will collaborate with eligible entities to help them increase their capacity and capability, through focused engagement activities leading up to the application period and providing increased technical assistance during the Year 1 application period. 
                        - Create innovative funding solutions.  Applicants can leverage loans for non-federal cost share with other FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs, helping underserved communities access additional funding resources.
                        - Deliver equitable investments and increased access.  A goal of the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program is that 40% of the overall benefits generated by the entity loan funds flow to underserved communities.
                        - Reduce grant application complexity.  The goal of launching this effort is to reduce program complexity by breaking down barriers and increasing access to mitigation funding.
                        - Maximize administrative flexibility.  Throughout the process, identify administrative burdens and reduce them to the greatest extent possible.

Read a fact sheet on the Safeguarding Tomorrow RLF program.

Last updated March 1, 2024

Return to top