The New Hampshire Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) will conduct a series of briefings beginning today to advise state agencies, local governments, and non-profit organizations about the application process for reimbursement of costs incurred due to emergency protective measures taken in response to COVID-19.  This reimbursement program is through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Pubic Assistance Program. Registration information for the briefings is listed below.    

A Public Assistance FAQ and explanation of Eligible Applicants provide additional information, including the types of COVID-19 costs that are eligible for reimbursement under this program.  Currently, the Public Assistance Program has a 75% federal cost share, in which the applicant is responsible for 25% of its eligible costs. Typically, federal funds cannot be matched with other federal funds. HSEM has requested approval of 100% federal cost share, which is under review by FEMA and the president 

The briefing will discuss application procedures, administrative requirements, funding, and program eligibility criteria for the FEMA Public Assistance Program for the COVID-19 disaster. It is imperative that a staff person, such as the emergency management director and/or finance director of your municipality, attend one of these briefings to apply for federal assistance and facilitate the application process. Please try to attend a session that best represents your organization. If you are unable to do so, please choose a session that fits your schedule. 

Pre-registration is required for all applicant briefings. Click the registration link below of your preferred time to register. Once registered, you will be sent a confirmation email with a link to an online webinar. Please be sure to check your junk mail for this confirmation.

 Recordings of these briefings will be made available online on the HSEM Resource Center: Public Assistance (PA) Grant Program Page.  If you have any questions and/or you are unable to make a briefing, please contact your assigned HSEM field representative (local governments) or the HSEM Public Assistance Staff at NHPA@dos.nh.gov (all other applicants).

In addition to the GOFERR Legislative Advisory Board, Governor Sununu has created two other entities with advisory responsibilities relative to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The first is the Stakeholder Advisory Board. This board is tasked with “developing recommendations for the allocation and expenditure of CARES Act emergency relief funds, or other Federal COVID-19 relief and recovery funds received by the state.” The initial appointments were made on April 15. Additional appointments were made this week. Just one municipal employee has been appointed to represent the state’s 234 towns and cities on the board. 

The second is the Re-opening Task Force; the current membership includes state legislators and numerous industry representatives. However, there are no municipal representatives currently on the Task Force. 

As NHMA explained in its presentation to the GOFERR Legislative Advisory Board, municipalities have experienced and will continue to experience severe financial impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Municipalities also play an integral role in the health, safety, and welfare of the public. Therefore, advice and input from municipal government are critical in determining how to allocate the CARES Act stimulus money and the safest route for re-opening the state. We are grateful for the action the governor has taken to support municipal government thus far, and we urge him to continue to do so by including more municipal representation on the Stakeholder Advisory Board and appointing municipal representatives to the Re-opening Task Force.

Like much of the nation and most of the state, the legislature has now been closed for six weeks, and a full re-opening remains beyond the horizon. Only the joint Fiscal Committee met this week. The House Finance Committee will meet remotely in executive session next Thursday to act on a few bills as a first “toe in the water.” If that goes well, other committees may schedule executive sessions the following week. There will be no Senate activity next week, and no hearings are scheduled in either chamber.

The organizational meeting of NHMA’s legislative policy committees, previously scheduled for April 3, has been rescheduled to Friday, May 29, at 9:00 a.m. As of now, we anticipate that this will be a “virtual meeting,” with all members participating by telephone or other electronic means. We will provide further information well in advance of that meeting. 

This also means that meetings of the legislative policy committees will need to continue through June and possibly into July. Much depends on events beyond our control, but we will do our best to make the process as smooth and efficient as possible. Look for updates here and in our biweekly newsletter, NewsLink.