Because Congress did not pass an appropriations bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) until March 3, 2015, there is a compressed timeline for preparedness grant applications this year. Highlights of the changes include:

• A three-year period of performance compared to the two-year grant period that had been in effect.
• Grant recipients are reminded of the importance of maintaining fiscal discipline so that large unspent grant balances do not accumulate.
• A reduction in the number of UASI grants, per Congressional direction; 28 urban areas are eligible in FY 2015 compared with 39 in FY 2014.
• Closing date for applications is May 19; local governments are encouraged to begin the application process as soon as possible on grants.gov, entering in the required administrative information first.
• Level funding, with most grants funded at the same level as they were in FY 2014.
• Awards of competitive grants to be announced on July 23; all other grants will be approved on a rolling basis by September 30, 2015.

For more information, see http://www.fema.gov/grants.