$310M for Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program

The Assistance to Firefighters Grants program could award up to 2,500 applicants grant funding for vehicles, operations and safety and regional projects.

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The Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting application from October 11 through November 18, 2016. The budget for the program is $310,500,000, which could award up to 2,500 applicants, depending on the needs of the applicants and the benefits anticipated.

The purpose of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants, also known as AFG Grants, is to improve the safety of the public and firefighters through direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations. Grants are for critically needed resources that equip and train first responders, enhance operations and make communities more resilient. The grants also address the following core capabilities:

  • Fire Management and Suppression
  • Environmental Response/Health and Safety
  • Threats and Hazards Identification
  • Public Health, Healthcare and Emergency Medical Services
  • Operational Coordination
  • Operational Communications
  • Mass Search and Rescue Operations
  • Community Resilience
  • Long-term Vulnerability Reduction

Assistance to Firefighters Grants applications can request funding for vehicles, operations and safety and regional projects. Vehicle acquisition grants are specific, but other grant categories can cover a range of needs from training to technological implementation like body worn camera programs and the data storage they require.

FEMA will be reviewing applications for the following criteria:

  • The findings of its technical review panel
  • The degree to which awards would reduce deaths, injuries and property damage by reducing associated risks
  • The extent of applicants’ needs for Assistance to Firefighters Grants, and the need to protect the United States as a whole

A five, 10 or 15 percent grant match is required depending on the size of the community. Grant recipients will be announced in February 2017 and funds awarded from March 2017 through March 2018.

Learn more about the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and access tools to apply on the FEMA website.

Andrea Fox is Editor of Gov1.com and Senior Editor at Lexipol. She is based in Massachusetts.

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