SAFE Rural Act

(f) Criteria for mitigation activities. In determining whether to carry out a project with funds provided under this section, the recipient of funds shall take into account—

(1) project need and risk reduction potential;

(2) short- and long-term community benefits and sustainability;

(3) cost-effectiveness and budget clarity;

(4) collaboration with State, Tribal, regional, or watershed authorities;

(5) environmental and landscape impacts, including the use of nature based or green infrastructure approaches where feasible;

(6) long-term operational feasibility;

(7) applicant capacity and the degree to which the project design reflects local knowledge and community-identified priorities, with allowance for limited technical sophistication in application materials from first-time applicants, low-capacity applicants, and small and rural applicants; and

(8) whether a project is located in—

(A) an area with high or very high hazard potential, elevated risk, or meeting vulnerability criteria;

(B) a low-income community; or

(C) a community affected by a major disaster within the preceding 10 years.