District 1 Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold shared this news via her constituent newsletter

The Hiawatha Community Center Stabilization Project has been stalled due to new federal guidance on infrastructure projects.  Yesterday the City cleared an important hurdle to addressing this delay.  The State received a waiver from the federal guidance that was holding it up.  The Hiawatha Community Center Stabilization Project is now heading for a FEMA grant award.

Background: I’ve heard from several constituents recently asking for updates on the Hiawatha Community Center improvements, including electrical repairs, water and sewer pipe replacements, furnace and water heater repairs, roof replacement, and more.  Seattle Parks & Recreation has provided this information on the project website:

Seattle Parks and Recreation is waiting on approval of a FEMA grant before we can proceed with bidding and construction for this community center stabilization project.

My office dug a little deeper.  One of the conditions of the FEMA grant is that the project can’t be put out to bid until grant approval is received.  The hold-up at FEMA is connected to the new, federal “Buy American” guidance for infrastructure projects, which has put a hold on all pending sub-grants, including Hiawatha.  This is a national problem facing applicants in two different categories: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) and Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM).

FEMA and the State were working together on a waiver for Hiawatha, and just yesterday, we learned that the waiver was granted!  Seattle Parks & Recreation reports that the Hiawatha Community Center project is ready to move to award.  We are seeking a timeline for the next step.  Parks further reports that, given the current construction market, this project would not go out to bid until mid-September.  With steps including a. contract award, b. contract execution, and c. a 9-month construction schedule, they estimate completion in August 2023.  I do not want the community to go yet another summer without access to this community treasure, the oldest community center west of the Mississippi. I will be inquiring how we can get it open sooner.

The State’s emergency management division directed us to FEMA Region 10 guidance:

FEMA Region 10 would like to share information with you regarding the “Buy American” preference in FEMA financial assistance programs, including the BRIC grant program. As part of President Biden’s Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, beginning with awards received on or after May 14, 2022, any infrastructure project receiving federal funding must source their iron, steel, manufactured products and construction materials from the United States.  The below link provides more details on requirements of the Act, including the programs that are subject to BABAA and those not subject to BABAA. Please note, BRIC, PDM and FMA are subject to BABAA.

“Buy America” Preference in FEMA Financial Assistance Programs for Infrastructure | FEMA.gov

As the website states: These requirements apply to new awards made on or after May 14, 2022, as well as new funding FEMA obligates to existing awards or through renewal awards where the new funding is obligated on or after May 14, 2022. Until more guidance is received, FEMA Region 10 will not be issuing new awards or additional obligations to existing awards.  Additional information on FEMA’s Policy implementing OMB Memo M-22-11 is forthcoming and FEMA Region 10 will share any additional information once received from FEMA HQ.

At our request, Congresswoman Jayapal’s office has also been looking into the delay and advocating for speedy approval.