The Federal Emergency Management Agency recently named a Colton woman the panel of Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities panel to review applications submitted in 2020.

Peggy L. Mousaw was one of the panelist the Agency invited to help with the work to support states, local communities, tribes and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards.

The BRIC program guiding principles are supporting communities through capability- and capacity-building; encouraging and enabling innovation; promoting partnerships; enabling large projects; maintaining flexibility; and providing consistency.

Mousaw is a FEMA certified exercise evaluator and is FEMA certified in Dam Failure preparedness.

In March, she assisted in the review of applications nationwide on breakwater infrastructure, wildfire prevention, drought resistant landscaping, communications, dam and bridge failure and other major capital projects for determination of the distribution of $500 million Federal dollars.

This is the first year that FEMA has offered this type of participation in the grant review process. Panelists from this year are automatically invited to participate again next year.

Mousaw has worked over 25 years in municipal finance, is a NYS Credentialed Municipal Finance Officer and a NYS Certified Assessor. As a NYS Certified WBE (Women Owned Business) in consulting, construction and project management; Mousaw consults municipalities in multiple counties in NYS on finance, budgeting, labor, public remote access to municipalities, capital projects and grant writing.

Mousaw has served on Regional Boards for the NYS Government Finance Officer’s Association, Central New York Regional and Economic Planning Board, nineteen year presenter for the SUNY Potsdam Local Government Conference and as a liaison for a ten day community wide Military Innovative Readiness Training exercise under a Pentagon grant.

In May/June 2020, Mousaw was named volunteer of the month by Adirondack Explorer magazine for her 13 years of service as an Olympic International/USA Luge Race Official. She also officiates USA Parabob and Skeleton and volunteers for local events with the Higley Flow Association.