Passing this along for members that may have had projects paused:
FEMA lifts Immediate Needs Funding (INF) restrictions
IAEM
The Continuing Resolution signed on Sept. 26 gives FEMA access to enough funding to lift Immediate Needs Funding (INF) beginning on Oct. 1. On Aug. 7, FEMA implemented INF restrictions to preserve critical resources necessary for lifesaving and life-sustaining activities against a rapidly depleting Disaster Relief Fund balance. This guidance allowed the agency to prioritize ongoing disaster operations and preserve funding for initial response and recovery activities for new incidents. Under INF, new obligations for non-lifesaving and life-sustaining activities were paused so FEMA could continue focusing on response and urgent recovery efforts, such as the response to Hurricane Helene, without interruption. The Continuing Resolution gives FEMA access to $20 billion. Lifting INF allows FEMA to begin processing obligations of approximately $9 billion for over 3,000 paused projects. Delayed projects will be processed as quickly as possible. FEMA estimates that all INF-delayed projects will be funded within the next several weeks. In addition, on Aug. 29, 2024, FEMA announced that COVID-19 project closeout deadlines would be extended until 90 days after INF was lifted. All small projects, which are those with a total cost under $1 million (regardless of when they were obligated) and large projects obligated as of May 6, 2024, will now have until Dec. 30, 2024, to submit their closeout documentation. The deadline for large projects obligated after May 6, 2024, remains unchanged until March 1, 2025