Mitigation

The CDBG-DR mitigation set-aside is a required allocation equal to 15% of the total grant and cannot be reduced or reprogrammed for other recovery uses. This dedicated portion must be used for activities that reduce future disaster risk and increase community resilience, as defined by HUD and informed by Maui County’s FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plan.

This program is designed to serve two distinct purposes:

1. FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Match – Mitigation funds will provide the required non-federal match (typically 25%) for FEMA-approved mitigation projects. These projects are generally capital improvements aimed at reducing risk from wildfires, floods, wind, and seismic activity.
2. Community Resilience Set-Aside – The remaining portion of mitigation funds broader, forward-looking projects that enhance the County’s long-term resilience. These investments may not qualify under FEMA’s hazard-specific definitions but play a critical role in stabilizing housing, infrastructure, and local economies in the face of future threats.

Together, these initiatives enable Maui County to strengthen its built environment, safeguard public health and safety, and promote sustainable recovery practices. Projects may address:

• Flood control, wildfire mitigation, fire-resistant infrastructure
• Wind and seismic retrofits for public facilities
• Energy resilience: microgrids, backup power, solar + battery storage
• Water systems: access, distribution, and storage upgrades
• Transportation: mobility, emergency access, transit enhancements
• Housing resilience and affordability
• Parking and access improvements
  • Development of designated parking areas and related access infrastructure that directly support eligible CDBG-DR projects or facilities (e.g., housing for LMI households, public services, or critical community facilities).
  • Improvements must be necessary to ensure operational functionality, accessibility, or life-safety access, and may include traffic flow enhancements to reduce congestion and improve emergency response access
• Strategic business relocation and hazard-resilient economic redevelopment:
  • Assistance to eligible businesses in high-risk areas to support voluntary relocation, continuity of operations, and hazard risk reduction through strategic buyouts or site transitions
  • The creation or retention of permanent jobs for LMI individuals 

The County may also offer voluntary buyouts for properties located in high-risk areas, as part of its long-term strategy to reduce future hazard exposure and promote safer, more resilient land use.

The total allocation amount is $213,832,000.00, which will be used for the following:

• HMGP Match $15,000,000.00
• Mitigation Set-Aside $198,832,000.00