Construction Monthly Magazine | Dallas 2021 Build Expo Show Edition
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$500 MILLION NOW<br />
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-<br />
DISASTER MITIGATION<br />
PROJECTS<br />
By Mary Scott Nabers<br />
Climate change and the need for mitigation efforts for<br />
disaster control have resulted in more federal funding<br />
available for public entities throughout the U.S.<br />
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)<br />
soon will distribute up to $500 million from a new<br />
<strong>Build</strong>ing Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)<br />
grant program for pre-disaster mitigation projects. The<br />
funding is available for public officials at the state and<br />
local levels of government.<br />
Contractors interested in this type of work should<br />
monitor regional funding requests because they are tied<br />
to planned projects. A few examples of upcoming projects<br />
follow.<br />
Illinois<br />
The cities of Centreville, Cahokia, and Alorton will merge<br />
to become Cahokia Heights later this year. While that<br />
will please local community leaders, there’s a bit of<br />
sobering news as well. There is a significant problem<br />
related to major flood trouble zones, and a $22 million<br />
grant application has been submitted to the new FEMA<br />
program. If granted, the city will use the funding for<br />
projects related to sewer work, new pump stations,<br />
and other upgrades. <strong>Construction</strong> will begin soon if the<br />
funding is approved.<br />
Louisiana<br />
There is similar activity in Louisiana. The Louisiana<br />
Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s budget for<br />
fiscal 2022, which starts July 1, outlines a spending plan<br />
for $887 million for projects along the state’s coastline.<br />
At least 71 percent of the funding is earmarked for<br />
construction projects related to flood mitigation.<br />
<strong>Construction</strong> is slated for early 2022 on a $162 million<br />
Terrebonne Basin Ridge and Marsh Creation Project. The<br />
project is designed to restore and maintain approximately<br />
1,430 acres of eroding saltwater marsh and 80 acres of<br />
earthen ridge of the Bayou Terrebonne.<br />
Another project with projected costs at more than $108<br />
million will be launched to rebuild marshes and oyster<br />
reefs around Lake Borgne, the Golden Triangle area, and<br />
areas of the Biloxi Marsh shoreline.<br />
In Plaquemines Parish, $75 million has been designated<br />
for the Barataria Basin Ridge and Marsh Restoration<br />
Project and $50 million is tagged for work on the Mid-<br />
Barataria and Mid-Breton sediment diversions. These<br />
projects are related to an ongoing effort to prevent the<br />
bottom third of the state from disappearing into the Gulf<br />
of Mexico.<br />
Arkansas<br />
The city of Bentonville will ask residents in April to<br />
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