Fiscal Year 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant

The Fiscal Year 2025 Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This grant program is designed to support state, local, tribal, and territorial emergency management capabilities by offering funding that enhances preparedness, strengthens core emergency management functions, and builds resilience across jurisdictions. Funding is allocated to all 56 states and territories based on a population-based formula, and each state or territory may submit one application through either its State Administrative Agency (SAA) or Emergency Management Agency (EMA). The EMPG Program's primary goal is to assist emergency management agencies in implementing the National Preparedness System (NPS) and contributing to national security and resilience objectives. The funding enables jurisdictions to build and sustain capabilities identified through the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) and Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) process. Projects funded through EMPG must align with one or more core capabilities in areas such as planning, organization, equipment, training, or exercises (POETE). Additionally, FEMA requires the development and maintenance of a Distribution Management Plan as part of the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Eligible project activities include planning for disaster housing, emergency communication systems, public alert and warning, and continuity of government services. Applicants are expected to collaborate with FEMA Regional Administrators to develop Work Plans that address agreed-upon national, regional, and state/territory priorities. FEMA encourages applicants to prioritize readiness for extreme weather events and to address the needs of disaster-vulnerable communities, with an emphasis on inclusive, whole-community preparedness. Only states and territories are eligible to apply directly, but subawards to local governments are permitted. EMPG requires a 50% cost share, meaning the federal contribution cannot exceed half the total project cost. Cost share may be met through cash or in-kind contributions. FEMA has waived the cost match for insular territories such as American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Indirect costs are allowed, and management and administration costs are capped at 5%. Applications must be submitted through the FEMA GO system. The application window opens on July 28, 2025, at 9:00 AM ET, and closes on August 11, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET. Awards are anticipated to be selected by August 23, 2025, and awarded no later than September 30, 2025. The period of performance begins on October 1, 2024, and ends on September 30, 2027. Applications must include several required components, including the EMPG Work Plan, SF-424 forms, lobbying disclosures, and assurance statements. Key contacts for the program include regional FEMA Preparedness Officers and the FEMA Grants News team at fema-grants-news@fema.dhs.gov or (800) 368-6498. Additional technical assistance is available via the FEMA GO Helpdesk and the FEMA Office of Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation for compliance matters. Guidance on all procedures and requirements is available in the FEMA Preparedness Grants Manual and other supporting documents on FEMA's official website.

Applicants should ensure alignment with capability gaps identified in the THIRA/SPR and use FEMA's EMPG Work Plan Template. Coordinate early with regional officers.