Fayetteville’s commitment to infrastructure leads to FEMA $15.4 million grant finalist

By Staff Report, posted Sep 6, 2023 on BizFayetteville.com

The project is located in the eastern edge of the City of Fayetteville and includes the Person St. Bridge located on Person St. between South Kennedy St. and B St., the Russell St. Bridge located on Russell St. between Wayde St. and Old Wilmington Rd, and 4,000 linear feet of stream enhancement work starting from Blounts Creek at South Cool Spring St. to downstream of Person St. The area being mitigated encompasses mixed residential, commercial, and industrial zoned properties. Image provided by City of Fayetteville.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency identified Fayetteville as a potential recipient for significant federal funding through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant Program.

The announcement of the $15.4 million grant was made on Aug. 28 on the FEMA website. The grant will fund a crucial flood mitigation project aimed at enhancing the city's resilience and safeguarding its residents and infrastructure from the impacts of natural disasters.

The grant will fund projects to support the Russell-Person Street Bridge and Stream Improvement Plan. This investment into the City’s stormwater infrastructure is intended to provide an additional level of protection to public infrastructure within downtown Fayetteville by improving drainage, increasing storage capacity, and mitigating flooding impacts to residential and commercial properties along Blounts Creek. The potential award would represent the largest amount designated by FEMA to a community in North Carolina this funding cycle.

The project was identified by the City as a potential project for BRIC funding through its Citywide Watershed Master Plan. The initial grant application was submitted to the North Carolina Department of Public Safety for preliminary review in November 2022 and with NCDPS concurrence, the project was submitted in full to FEMA in January of this year. This announcement is the final selection before programmatic review and formal award.

“We are excited at what we will be able to accomplish with the BRIC grant,” said City Manager Douglas J. Hewett in a press release. “City Council and staff have worked diligently on enhancing the overall quality of life for our residents and The Russell-Person Street Bridge and Stream Improvement Project will not only mitigate flooding risks but also demonstrates our commitment to building a safer community.”

In addition to the grant funding, the City will receive non-financial direct technical assistance (DTA) through the BRIC program. This holistic support will aid in the comprehensive planning and successful execution of the flood mitigation project.

Survey, design, and stakeholder engagement for the project began earlier this year, with the proposed improvements scheduled to be constructed in the fall of 2027.

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