Giving

Resilience Doesn’t Pause—Neither Do We: A Letter from the HCRI Director

Dear Community Partners and Colleagues,

At the Boise State University Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute (HCRI), we remain steadfast in our mission: We support communities to identify risks and solutions to build long-term resilience.

Even as current federal decisions introduce new uncertainty, our resolve to support this work has never been stronger. But today, we face a turning point—and we need your support.

Through our role as Idaho’s partner in the EPA’s Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC), we’ve worked side by side with stakeholders across Idaho to identify environmentally burdened communities and provide no-cost technical assistance. Our efforts include assisting communities with grant applications for water availability studies and flood mitigation projects.

Today that work is at risk. The TCTAC program is frozen and expected to be discontinued. Compounding this challenge, The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced the termination of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program—a foundational source of support for hazard mitigation planning and implementation projects nationwide.

These decisions disproportionately affect rural and under-resourced communities across Idaho.

Still, we move forward.

The HCRI remains deeply committed to serving communities across Idaho and beyond. In the face of shifting federal priorities, we are actively working to sustain momentum by continuing to provide technical assistance to under-resourced communities. We’re also partnering with Idaho counties to advance hazard mitigation efforts—even in the absence of programs like FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities.

To continue our momentum, we’re seeking short-term bridge funding to retain Dr. Zachary Provant, a core team member whose work was supported by the now-paused TCTAC program.

With your support, Dr. Provant will continue offering no-cost technical assistance to Idaho Communities. He will also launch a strategic and timely initiative focused on identifying alternative, community-driven pathways to resilience.

Dr. Provant’s project will focus on:

• Assess the impact of Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Programs funded projects across Idaho and neighboring states.

• Host strategic workshops with Emergency Managers and community stakeholders to document impacts and co-develop future resilience strategies

Through Dr. Provant’s work, we will continue to elevate community voices, inform future strategies, and uncover new routes to resilience, even in an evolving and uncertain funding environment.

If you’re in a position to contribute—or to connect us with others who share this commitment—we welcome your support. Every donation directly sustains this work and the people behind it.

Click here to support HCRI’s continued service to Idaho’s communities

You can also mail a check, made payable to the Boise State University Foundation:

Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725-1515

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions, ideas, or opportunities to collaborate.

Together, we will not allow funding uncertainty to undermine Idaho’s future. We are ready—with focus, resilience, and strong partnerships—to continue this essential work.

In partnership,
Brittany Brand
Director, Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute
Boise State University

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