The City of Grants Pass has encountered a major financial hurdle in its effort to construct a replacement water treatment facility, after the cancellation of a critical federal funding source. Plans for the new plant, which was expected to break ground next month, are now in question following the termination of a federal grant program that had earmarked tens of millions of dollars for the city’s project.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced the discontinuation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program for the fiscal years spanning 2020 to 2024. BRIC was a nationwide initiative aimed at enhancing the resilience of public infrastructure against natural disasters and other emergencies, while promoting long-term sustainability and risk reduction.
The City of Grants Pass had previously been selected as a recipient of a $50 million BRIC grant, one of the largest federal investments ever pledged to the city. That funding was expected to significantly offset the costs of replacing the city’s aging water treatment system — a multi-year project intended to secure clean and reliable water for decades to come. The current facility, originally built in the mid-20th century, has long been considered outdated and in need of replacement to meet both environmental standards and increasing community demand.
The loss of BRIC funding now threatens the timeline and scope of the project. Without the promised $50 million in grant assistance, city officials may be forced to either delay construction, scale back the project, or search for alternative sources of funding — including additional borrowing or tax increases, both of which could place a financial burden on local residents.
Originally scheduled to begin construction in May, the new water treatment facility was a centerpiece of the city’s long-term infrastructure improvement strategy. The project had already undergone extensive planning, public outreach, and environmental review. According to city planners, it was designed to increase capacity, ensure water quality compliance, and provide resilience in the face of regional threats such as wildfires, drought, and seismic events.
The federal cancellation of the BRIC program was part of a broader shift in FEMA’s budget priorities, which could have implications for communities across the United States. The agency cited funding reallocations and strategic realignment as reasons for halting the program. While no funds had yet been disbursed to Grants Pass, the city’s selection in the summer of 2023 as a grant recipient led local officials to begin preparing for construction under the assumption that the money would be delivered.
Now, with the grant rescinded, the city must reassess how to move forward. The cancellation not only affects financial planning but also casts uncertainty on the broader infrastructure goals of the city, which include sustainability improvements and modernization efforts across various departments.
This development also raises larger questions about the reliability of federal commitments and the risks municipalities face when funding is contingent on long-term grant programs. For Grants Pass, the consequences are immediate: a $50 million hole in its budget for a vital infrastructure project and the need to quickly explore contingency plans.
The City Council is expected to hold discussions in the coming weeks to evaluate possible next steps. Options on the table may include seeking state-level support, pursuing new federal opportunities if they become available, or revising the scope of the water treatment plant project to fit within a smaller budget. Community engagement will likely be a key part of the process moving forward, as the city navigates how to secure a safe and sustainable water future without the anticipated federal support.
