Agencies

Additional $28 Million Approved to Support Recovery

Published: 26 August 2025
Categories: FEMA News

RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – FEMA continues to support the state of North Carolina as it leads community cleanup and restores infrastructure damaged by Tropical Storm Helene and other disasters. 

On Aug. 24, Secretary Noem announced an additional $28 million in reimbursement funds for North Carolina disaster recovery. This brings the total in August alone to $124 million in recovery reimbursements to the state. 

Here are some of the FEMA grants obligated to the state and communities:

$14 million for emergency protective actions taken by approximately 40 North Carolina communities following Helene. $4.3 million for repairs to public parks and recreational facilities in Avery, Buncombe and Haywood counties and other communities. $3.6 million for public road and bridge repairs. $3 million for the repair or replacement of essential utilities including water treatment plants, water lines, and electrical systems. $2.8 million for local debris removal efforts in Buncombe County, Beech Mountain and other communities.

FEMA is reimbursing these costs at no less than a 75% federal share through its Public Assistance Program which provides funds for state and local governments response and recovery work. Helene costs are funded at no less than 90%. To date, more than $656 million has been provided to the state for road repair, debris removal, critical infrastructure repair and more. Since Jan. 20, 2025, more than $347 million in Public Assistance reimbursements has been approved to support the recovery

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FEMA, SBA Providing In-Person Assistance at Disaster Recovery Center in Doña Ana County

Published: 25 August 2025
Categories: FEMA News

RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

SANTA FE, New Mexico – A Disaster Recovery Center is open in Del Cerro, in Doña Ana County, to assist New Mexicans affected by the severe storms, flooding and landslides that occurred June 23 – Aug. 5. 

FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) began providing in-person assistance on Friday, Aug. 22 to help residents apply for federal assistance, including grants from FEMA and low-interest SBA Disaster Loans.

FEMA staff can help individuals in other ways including checking the status of existing applications and informing residents about additional resources available. 

The Lincoln County center remains open. Residents can go to either location. No appointment is needed. 

Doña Ana County Location:

Vado/Del Cerro Community Resource Center

180 La Fe Ave.

Del Cerro, NM 88048

Hours: 11:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. daily

Lincoln County Location:

Eastern New Mexico University-Ruidoso Annex 

709 Mechem Dr.

Ruidoso, N.M. 88345

Hours: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., daily

Other ways to apply with FEMA:

The fastest way is online at DisasterAssistance.gov or the Spanish language website DisasterAssistance.gov/es.Or you can call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. MT daily. Help is available in most languages. Press 2 for Spanish. If you use a relay service such as video relay, captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA your number for that service. You can also download the FEMA App for mobile devices.

To complete your application, you will need to provide FEMA with your full name, email address, mailing

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NSF announces new funding opportunities to advance AI education and build the STEM workforce of the future

Published: 22 August 2025
Categories: National Science Foundation

RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

The U.S. National Science Foundation has announced two new Dear Colleague Letters (DCL) and one program solicitation that implement key elements of the Trump administration’s executive order, “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth.” The new opportunities will take decisive steps to expand resources for K-12 AI education, enhance teacher training and harness AI tools and services to improve science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) teaching and learning.

“For decades, NSF has invested in research projects designed to transform STEM teaching and learning to meet emerging needs like AI. Integrating AI into education systems helps to prepare both young and adult learners to contribute to an AI-driven society,” said NSF Assistant Director for STEM Education James L. Moore III. “With these new funding mechanisms, NSF will fast-track its efforts to provide early exposure to AI, scale AI curricula, expand services that support the use of AI in education, advance teacher professional development and improve knowledge sharing in AI education to help sustain the nation’s leadership in technological innovation.”

Dear Colleague Letters

The Expanding K-12 Resources for AI Education DCL seeks to build upon NSF’s extensive investments in fundamental research, technology transition and education related to the science and application of AI. Existing awardees with K-12 AI or computer science education experience are invited to submit supplemental funding proposals to refine, scale, and/or implement established K-12 AI-related activities.

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NSF and NVIDIA partnership enables Ai2 to develop fully open AI models to fuel U.S. scientific innovation

Published: 14 August 2025
Categories: National Science Foundation

RSS feed source: Federal Emergency Management Agency

The U.S. National Science Foundation announced a partnership with NVIDIA to develop a set of artificial intelligence models that will transform the ability of America’s scientists to leverage AI, advancing scientific discovery and ensuring U.S. leadership in AI-powered research and innovation. NSF will contribute $75 million, with NVIDIA providing an additional $77 million, to support the Open Multimodal AI Infrastructure to Accelerate Science (OMAI) project, led by the Allen Institute for AI (Ai2). The collaboration will create a fully open suite of advanced AI models specifically designed to support the U.S. scientific community.

This public-private investment advances priorities set forth in the White House AI Action Plan to accelerate AI-enabled science and ensure the United States is producing the leading open models that enhance America’s global AI dominance.

“Bringing AI into scientific research has been a game changer,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director. “NSF is proud to partner with NVIDIA to equip America’s scientists with the tools to accelerate breakthroughs. These investments are not just about enabling innovation; they are about securing U.S. global leadership in science and technology and tackling challenges once thought impossible.”

The development of AI technologies is advancing rapidly, but the cost of creating and researching powerful AI models has grown beyond the budgets of university labs and federally funded researchers. This growing divide limits the

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