Project Description
The Township sought a qualified consultant to support its flood resilience initiatives through comprehensive grant management and home elevation project administration under FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, a core component of the broader Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) framework. CSA was engaged to deliver an integrated, hands-on approach that extends beyond traditional grant administration to include active management of design and construction processes for residential elevation projects.
Under this engagement, CSA performs grant management services in accordance with subgrant agreements while coordinating closely with Township officials, NJOEM, and FEMA to advance program objectives. CSA works directly with homeowners to facilitate participation, including completion of required documentation, explanation of program requirements, and identification of eligible and ineligible costs. Services include development and administration of homeowner agreements, budget tracking, preparation of payment requests, and reimbursement documentation to ensure compliance with funding requirements.
Distinct from traditional grant administration models, CSA provides active project oversight across design and construction phases, including review of contractor scopes of work for FEMA eligibility, coordination of project meetings, and ongoing stakeholder communication. This approach integrates grant compliance with real-time project delivery, ensuring that elevation projects are not only eligible for funding but are also executed efficiently, in alignment with regulatory requirements and long-term resilience objectives.
Key Outcome: Demonstrated full lifecycle delivery under FEMA’s FMA program, combining grant administration with hands-on design and construction management to support effective project execution for a resource-constrained municipality.
Project Implementation
CSA delivers coordinated program and project management services in close collaboration with Township officials, homeowners, NJOEM, and FEMA to advance home elevation projects from initiation through closeout. Services include homeowner intake and coordination, eligibility verification, scope and cost review, and facilitation of agreements governing project execution and funding requirements.
In addition to core grant administration functions, CSA actively manages project delivery through the design and construction phases. This includes review and coordination of contractor scopes of work, oversight of project budgets, facilitation of stakeholder meetings, and support for resolving project-level issues, including scope modifications and grant extensions. CSA manages ongoing program requirements, including preparation of payment requests, reimbursement submissions, and financial reconciliation with State and federal agencies.
Through the use of centralized project management tools and structured workflows, CSA maintains visibility across all active projects, ensuring consistent documentation, compliance tracking, and coordination among stakeholders. This “heavy touch” approach enables the Township to execute projects efficiently while maintaining alignment with FEMA requirements, reducing administrative burden on internal staff and supporting successful program delivery.