Public Assistance Grant Program
Public Assistance Grant Program supports Florida governments and private nonprofits with disaster response, facility restoration, and mitigation funding to aid recovery and reduce future damage.
Funder: Florida Division of Emergency Management
Due Dates: Within 30 days of presidential declaration (Request for Public Assistance, unless extended) | Within 18 months of declaration (Local match waiver)
Funding Amounts: FEMA covers 75%–100% of approved eligible costs; normal performance periods: 6 months for emergency work, 18 months for permanent work
Summary: Supplemental disaster assistance for eligible governments and private nonprofits to fund emergency response, facility restoration, and recovery-related mitigation in Florida.
Key Information: Work must result from a declared incident, be within the designated disaster area, and be the applicant’s legal responsibility.
Description
The Public Assistance Grant Program helps communities respond to and recover from presidentially declared major disasters or emergencies. FEMA provides federal funding, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) manages the program in Florida. Assistance supports debris removal, emergency protective measures, and repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged public facilities and eligible private nonprofit facilities.
The program also supports hazard mitigation during permanent restoration to reduce future damage and protect continuity of services. Examples include larger drainage culverts, underground power lines, building floodproofing, and wind-resistant materials. Public Assistance mitigation, also called PA 406 Mitigation, is noncompetitive and tied to eligible damaged facilities rather than undamaged facilities elsewhere.
