Chapter 3 › IV. Applicant Eligibility: State, Local, Tribal Nation, and Territorial Government Entities

Which government entities can apply for Public Assistance?

FEMA term

Eligible government applicants (SLTT)

Short answer

States and territories and their agencies; federally recognized Tribal Nations; and local governments, including counties, cities, towns, school districts, local public authorities, special districts, councils of governments and state recognized tribes. A state or local government can also apply on behalf of rural communities and unincorporated towns. For-profit businesses cannot apply.

What FEMA requires

States and territories: including D.C., American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and their agencies. The state designates one agency, usually emergency management, as the recipient, which passes funds through to other agencies as subrecipients.
Tribal Nations: federally recognized tribes, including Alaska Native villages, are eligible and do not need a separate recipient agency for their own declaration. Alaska Native Corporations are not eligible. State recognized tribes cannot request a declaration but can receive PA.
Local governments: counties and parishes; municipalities, cities, towns, boroughs and townships; local public authorities; school districts; intrastate districts; councils of governments; regional and interstate entities; agencies of local governments; state recognized tribes; and special districts under state law.
Community development districts: must own and be legally responsible for an eligible facility that is open to and serves the general public.
The state or a political subdivision may apply on behalf of rural communities, unincorporated towns or villages, and other public entities not listed.
For-profit entities are not eligible, but governments may contract with them for eligible emergency protective measures.

<table class="pt-table"><thead><tr><th>Applicant type</th><th>Eligible?</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>States and territories, and their agencies</td><td>Eligible</td></tr><tr><td>Federally recognized Tribal Nations, including Alaska Native villages and organizations</td><td>Eligible</td></tr><tr><td>State recognized Tribal Nations and heritage groups</td><td>Eligible (cannot request a declaration)</td></tr><tr><td>Alaska Native Corporations</td><td>Not eligible (privately owned)</td></tr><tr><td>Counties, parishes, cities, towns, boroughs and townships</td><td>Eligible</td></tr><tr><td>School districts, local public authorities, special districts, councils of governments, regional and interstate entities</td><td>Eligible</td></tr><tr><td>Community development districts</td><td>Eligible only for facilities open to and serving the general public</td></tr><tr><td>For-profit entities</td><td>Not eligible</td></tr></tbody></table>

Documentation

Evidence of your government status where it isn’t obvious, such as the statute or charter creating a special district or authority, and for community development districts, proof that the facility is open to and serves the general public.

Watch out · Govstar practitioner advice

Special districts and authorities are where eligibility questions come up. Have the state statute or charter that created you ready, and if you are a community development district, show that the facility is open to and serves the public.

Govstar summarizes FEMA’s Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide in plain language and links to the official text. Govstar is independent and not affiliated with FEMA. This is general guidance, not legal advice.