As wildfires, tornados, flooding and other climate disasters threaten our nation, now is the time to improve the climate resiliency of our communities. The number of disasters totaling over a billion dollars has risen considerably over the past five years, with nearly 18 events a year. In some communities, the impacts of this rising rate in large-scale disasters resulted in the disruption of critical services, depressed property values, soaring insurance rates, and long-term infrastructure damage. By helping build resilient infrastructure before major disasters, climate resiliency aids diverse communities in weathering the impacts of accelerating climate change.

Karsun’s grants management modernization work supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) includes its Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) platform. This project enables FEMA to more efficiently deliver resiliency grants such as the Building Resilient Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance. Improving climate resiliency through grants and other programs supports diverse communities in several ways.

Diverse communities are often the most vulnerable to extreme weather events, such as hurricanes, floods, and droughts. Improving climate resiliency can help reduce the impact of these events, which can help protect these communities from the economic and social costs of natural disasters. It can also protect the history of those communities for future generations. We previously shared how resiliency grants helped preserve the history of Princeville, North Carolina, one of the first towns formed by African American citizens in the United States.

Beyond preventing the harms caused by natural disasters, resilient infrastructure projects bring many benefits to communities. Improving climate resiliency might include planting more trees and creating green spaces. This helps mitigate the urban heat island effect and provides a range of other benefits, such as improving air quality and supporting biodiversity. This may also involve promoting sustainable agriculture, supporting local food systems, and implementing practices that help communities adapt to changing weather patterns. This, in turn, may increase access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food. Additionally, climate resiliency may introduce measures to reduce air pollution and promote active transportation, such as walking and cycling, which can help improve public health outcomes.

Overall, improving climate resiliency supports diverse communities by reducing their vulnerability to climate change, promoting environmental sustainability, and enhancing their overall well-being. The work done by Karsun grants management teams at FEMA support these efforts. Builders, experimenters, and innovators looking to Find Your Next while solving difficult challenges may apply for open roles at KarsunCareers.com.

Resiliency is about more than protecting our current possessions, it’s about preserving our past. As we enter Black History month this February, we are reminded of the importance of preserving our historic sites in areas threatened by climate change. Karsun proudly supports the work of African American communities preparing for the future by building resiliency now. Our grants management modernization program supports the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) platform. Through this platform these communities may apply for resiliency grants and save critical historic sites.

Princeville, North Carolina is one town protecting their history now as they prepare for future climate conditions. A recent video from the FEMA reveals resiliency efforts here. Founded in 1885 Princeville was among the first towns chartered by African American citizens in the United States. 

At the conclusion of the United States Civil War, former slaves settled in an area named Freedom Hill. Residents named the fledgling community after the high bluff where newly freed slaves announced the Emancipation Declaration. Later the town incorporated, naming itself after ex-slave Turner Prince who built many of the community’s homes. 

For residents of Princeville, resiliency is about more than protecting their homes, it’s about protecting this history. Much of the town is located on swamp land which is particularly vulnerable to flooding during hurricane season. In 1999 the Princeville Dike failed and water rose 23 feet above the streets. It was declared a National Disaster Area, with destruction not only to homes and businesses but also to the historic cemetery located in the town.

Residents are still recovering from Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and later Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Nevertheless, as the FEMA clip shows, the residents maintain hope for a vibrant future. Envisioning a town as a historic destination, they dream of sharing their story while growing the town for the next generation. 

In 2020, the town of Princeville was selected to receive FEMA funding, as well as funds from the State and other entities, to support the town’s vision for resiliency and growth. These funds have enabled the residents of Princeville to elevate homes to protect against future flooding, rebury caskets that had washed up from the graveyard, and improve the levees to protect the town from future flooding. 

Karsun is working with FEMA to modernize FEMA’s ten legacy IT systems and 40+ grants programs into a single grants management platform, as part of the FEMA GO modernization. This effort will standardize business processes through a consistent grants management lifecycle, enabling FEMA to more efficiently deliver grants such as the Building Resilient Communities and Flood Mitigation Assistance to support relief and reconstruction of towns like Princeville. 

Resiliency grants and other FEMA programs help residents prepare for a better future while honoring their past. Karsun’s grants management modernization experts proudly support this agency’s mission.

HERNDON, VA – The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded Karsun Solutions, LLC the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grants Management Modernization (GMM) Program Agile development contract. This is a five-year single award Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) with a ceiling value of $80 million and was awarded under Full and Open Competition to Karsun Solutions, a growing enterprise modernization firm headquartered in Herndon, Virginia.

FEMA has begun a multi-year effort to transform the way the Agency manages grants.  The GMM Program seeks to streamline grants management across the agency’s 40+ grant programs through a user-centered, business-driven approach. GMM will consolidate FEMA’s ten legacy IT systems into a single grants management IT platform. The program will also consolidate FEMA’s grants operations, establishing a common grants management lifecycle and unifying business processes across grant programs where possible. These changes will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of FEMA’s grant operations, thereby strengthening the Agency’s ability to carry out its mission.

“FEMA GMM represents a multi-year effort for IT Modernization and transformation that will better enable citizens and first responders to apply for and be awarded federal disaster and non-disaster grants.  We are honored to support DHS and FEMA in this effort,” said Sundar Vaidyanathan, Karsun Solutions co-founder and Chief Executive Officer.

“We are excited to partner with FEMA to deliver the innovation and citizen impact that our federal customers are accustomed to receiving.  We look forward to bringing our expertise in modern software development, cloud solutions, and advanced analytics solutions to the Grants Modernization program,” added Kartik Mecheri, Karsun Solutions co-founder and Chief Architect.

Founded in 2009, the IT modernization firm experienced steady growth. In addition to the FEMA GMM award, the organization currently supports multiple large scale modernization efforts focused on modern software development, advanced analytics, and cloud solutions. Karsun Solutions recently announced it ranked among the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies four years in a row.

About Karsun Solutions

Karsun Solutions is a fast-growing, innovative enterprise modernization firm. Recently awarded Best Company Culture by Comparably.com, its teams deliver modern software development, cloud, and data solutions to customers at government agencies including the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration and General Services Administration. Leveraging GoLean, Karsun teams drive digital transformation and help its government customers Do Extraordinary. Learn more at Karsun-LLC.com.