Sixty-seven eligible states and localities can begin applying for $1 billion in federal funds to be granted toward reducing vulnerability to extreme events, as part of a National Disaster Resilience Competition held by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. Applications for the qualifying phase of the year-long competition are due in March.

Successful applicants from the qualifying phase will be invited to apply for participation in the implementation phase, which include the design of solutions. Implementation-phase applications must include an analysis of any proposed projects with an account of social and ecological benefits and costs.

In advance of the submission of applications, communities—deemed eligible if they experienced a presidentially declared major disaster in 2011, 2012 or 2013—will be able to attend "resilience academies," held at different locations across the U.S. The briefings, intended to help assess needs and prepare applications, will be funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.

Applicants must tie their proposals to an "eligible" disaster from which they are recovering. Winners will receive funding for "innovative resilience projects" that will better prepare communities for future storms and other extreme events.

Funding for the winning proposals is from the community development block grant disaster recovery appropriation, provided by the Disaster Relief Appropriation Act, 2013.

As a HUD partner in the initiative, the Rockefeller Foundation will provide technical assistance.