Flood Mitigation Program (FMP)

The Flood Mitigation Program (FMP) is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (PA DCED) under the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA). The program is funded through Act 13 of 2012, which established the Marcellus Legacy Fund to support statewide initiatives aimed at reducing the risk and impact of flooding. The FMP is designed to provide financial assistance for eligible flood mitigation projects throughout Pennsylvania. The program’s objective is to mitigate flood damages, improve public safety, and enhance resilience in vulnerable communities across the Commonwealth. The FMP provides funding for a wide range of flood mitigation activities, including land acquisition, engineering studies, construction and rehabilitation of flood control structures, debris removal, and related project costs. Eligible applicants include municipalities (counties, cities, boroughs, townships, home rule municipalities), councils of governments, authorized organizations (such as nonprofits involved in conservation or recreation), institutions of higher education, recognized watershed organizations, and for-profit businesses excluding natural gas producers. The program targets projects authorized by relevant state and federal agencies or identified by local governments for flood mitigation purposes. Each funded project must have a minimum total cost of $50,000. Funds can be used for specific project expenses such as land acquisition, engineering studies (including levee certification and HEC-RAS studies), construction and improvement of flood control systems, debris removal, installation of security measures, construction inspection, permit fees, bonds and insurance, and limited administrative costs. Certain costs, such as public relations, lobbying, and application preparation, are explicitly ineligible. Applicants are required to provide a 15 percent cash match or equivalent in appraised real estate value. All necessary planning and permits must be secured prior to fund disbursement. A non-refundable application fee of $100 applies to each submission. Grant amounts are capped at $500,000 per project. Applications are accepted annually between February 1st and May 31st through the PA DCED’s online Single Application for Assistance portal. The CFA evaluates applications based on cost, strategic importance, and community impact. Successful applicants must execute a grant agreement within 45 days of approval and ensure project costs fall within the grant agreement’s timeframe. Construction oversight and expense certification by licensed professionals are required. Funds are released at intervals no less than 30 days. Applicants must submit several supporting documents, including a detailed project description, engineering feasibility study, cost estimates, construction documents, a list of required permits, evidence of matching funds, planning compliance letters, a formal resolution, and, if applicable, consent letters for land acquisition. Program inquiries can be directed to the Office of Business Finance and Workforce Development – CFA Programs Division at the PA DCED via email at ra-dcedsitedvpt@pa.gov or by phone at (717) 787-6245. The guidelines and application details are available online at dced.pa.gov.