Fire and EMS Safety Grants

New Station Funding

2011-07-28T08:19:00.000-07:00

I work for the Town of Lexington, Oregon. We are a small rural community in Northeastern Oregon. We are currently looking for Grants to fund the construction of a new fire station. In 2009 we received a FEMA pre-mitigation disaster grant to move our Town Hall and Fire Station out of the Floodway. We have re-located Town Hall to an older re-modeled building. Unfortunately the FEMA funds were not enough to build a new station. We have some money from the FEMA Grant left, as well as donated property for the new station. We have applied for several local grant programs here in Oregon and are awaiting answers from them. If you have any suggestions or advice you can offer it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for contacting us. The best advice I have is to contact your regional office of the US Department of Agriculture and inquire about their community Facilities Program. The program provides grants. low interest loans and loan guarantees to build or renovate fire stations among other uses. To qualify for the program you must have a population of less than 20,000 and have a median household income that is less than your state’s. At this time of the year the program is probably out of funds but they will have a new budget in October. If you are not familiar with your regional office of USDA you can go to USDA.gov to locate their contact information. Good luck.

-FireGrantsHelp Team

Wellness Program Funding

2011-06-17T08:02:00.000-07:00

I read the article on wellness program request, http://www.firegrantshelp.com/Columnists/Bryan-Jack/articles/817591-How-to-secure-wellness-and-fitness-AFG-funding/. Thanks for the info. I was wondering if you migh have a list of required medical physicals so that I can send out for a bid for these physicals.

The best place to start, is to review the required aspects of the NFPA Code 1582 (Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program). The NFPA allows non-members to review these codes free of charge during AFG, SAFER and FP&S grant processes. As far as a specific form please reference the below.

Here is a sample form that I found:

http://www.wmafirerescue.com/forms/physicalexam.pdf

Different Types of Grants

2011-04-11T10:44:00.000-07:00

What's the difference between a federal, state and corporation grant? Federal grants are issued by the federal government. State grants are issued by individual states. Corporate/Foundation grants are issued by private companies or private foundations. Thanks! -FireGrantsHelp Team

Who Writes the Grants

2011-03-30T11:13:00.000-07:00

Hi, I am looking into your services but would like to know more about who the grant writers are and what type of experience they have.

Thanks

Thanks for the question. We have three grant writers that have extensive knowledge in fire services and grant writing and their names are: Jerry Brant, Bryan Jack, and Stephen Buckner. More information about their experience may be found here.

Have a good day!

- FireGrantsHelp Team

Upcoming Conferences

2011-03-22T00:57:00.001-07:00

Are there any upcoming conferences that FireGrantsHelp will be at?

Yes, we do have a conference coming up! The upcoming one is actually this week, where Sarah Wilson will actually be in Indianapolis for the FDIC Conference. She will be at booth #4840 so make sure you take a visit and go say hi.

Thanks,

- FireGrantsHelp Team

Forgot Username/ Password

2011-03-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

I can't remember my password for my account with FireGrantsHelp. How can I get it back?

If you click on our Password Recovery page we can assist you in recovering your password or username with three different options. If neither of those options are applicable for you feel free to email us at CustomerSupport@firegrantshelp.com or call us at 1-888-Police1 (888-765-4231) between 8:00AM and 5:30 PM Pacific.

Thank you!
- FireGrantsHelp Team

Eligibility

2011-03-11T11:30:00.000-08:00

How do I know if my department is eligible to apply for a grant?

Thanks for the question. Our goal when we post grants onto our site is to make sure we define who's eligible for each specific grant. When you select a grant that you wish to pursue there is a bold heading that reads: Eligibility. Often times you can find the heading near the top of the posting. If you would like to find more information on eligible grant organizations follow this link. Grants.gov also has a helpful tutorial that you may want to view.

Cheers!
-FireGrantsHelp Team

Why Do We Need a CCR Number

2011-03-09T11:35:00.000-08:00

Why do we need a CCR number??

Thank you for your inquiry. Below is some frequently asked questions in relation to CCR numbers. I hope it helps!

What do I need to register with CCR?
Before registering with CCR, you should make sure that you have a DUNS number. You also need to ensure that your registration with the IRS for your Employment Identification Number (EIN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) is confirmed. Once you receive a letter from the IRS confirming your EIN or TIN, you may proceed with registration in CCR. Please note it will take 1 to 2 business days for IRS to validate your TIN. According to the IRS, when applying for an EIN over the phone or Internet, you will be given a temporary EIN, but your EIN may not become active for 2-5 weeks. If you have questions about your EIN, please call 1-800-829-4933. If you apply for an EIN by mail, confirmation from the IRS can take 2-5 weeks. In addition, you should review the tutorial topic "Registering with CCR" for more details about some of the information you will be required to provide.

Why do I need to register with CCR?
CCR is a government-wide registry for vendors doing business with the federal government. Grants.gov uses CCR to establish roles and IDs for those electronically applying for grants.

How do I register with CCR?
To register with CCR:

1. Go to the CCR website http://www.ccr.gov.
2. Click the Start New Registration link.
3. Answer and follow the instructions to complete registration.

Is there anything I should do before registering with CCR?
Before registering with CCR make sure that you have a DUNS #. If your organization already has an Employment Identification Number (EIN) or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), then you should allow one to two business days to complete the CCR registration. If your organization does not have an EIN or TIN, then you should allow two weeks for obtaining the information from IRS when requesting the EIN or TIN via phone or Internet.

How long should I allow for a CCR registration?
If your organization already has an Employment Identification Number (EIN) then you should allow three to five business days to complete the CCR registration. If your organization does not have an EIN, then you should allow 2 weeks for obtaining the information from IRS when requesting the EIN via phone, fax, mail or Internet.

- FireGrantsHelp Team

Why Register for FireGrantsHelp.com?

2011-03-04T11:23:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I was referred to Fire Grants Help by one of my friends who works for another department, but I haven't had time to look over your website. Can you tell me why I should register and how I can register.

That's great to hear that you've been referred by a friend! Welcome! There are many benefits that come with registering your department to our website. Some of the benefits include:
- Top notch resources to make the grant process easier
- Consistant alerts of grants that are suitable for your department
- Access to Firerescue1.com which brings career and volunteer firefighters together to share news, products, and videos.
- Best of all, it's FREE to sign up.

You can sign up by going to our Member Registration page.

We look forward to assisting you in the near future!
- FireGrantsHelp Team

Finding a Specific Grant Provider

2011-02-25T11:16:00.000-08:00

I'm looking for a specific provider of a grant. Is there anyway that I can search grants on FireGrantsHelp by provider?

We do have an option to search by provider. If you go to our Grants page there is a "by Provider" pull down menu. You can search for the provider that way, or you may type the provider's name in the keyword search box that is located above the "by Provider" pull down menu.

If you cannot find the specific provider you are looking for you may submit the grant/provider name here and we will update our database.

Thank You,
- FireGrantsHelp Team

Help Finding Statistics to Complete Application

2011-02-18T11:35:00.000-08:00

I'm finding difficulty finding some data that I need in order to complete my grant application. Could you possibly help with providing me with any recommended sites for finding statistics on demographics relating to my department.

A good source to go to would be the U.S. Census Bureau. The U.S. Census Bureau is a great resource in providing population, housing, economic, and geographic data essential to completing some grant applications. Many other sites will pull data from the Census Bureau, so your best bet is going straight to the source.

- FireGrantsHelp Team

Requesting Reviewers' Comments

2011-02-14T11:24:00.000-08:00

My department applied for a grant and was unfortunately turned down. I was wondering if reviewers leave comments on why our grant proposal was turned down and if there is any way that we can obtain those comments to improve for next time.

Hi!

That's unfortunate that your department wasn't given the funding opportunity this time, but good job keeping your head up and looking forward! There are ways to get the reviewers' comments. Generally you can obtain these comments by simply calling the program officer listed on the application guidance. If they are unresponsive, you can send a letter to the program officer requesting the reviewers’ comments. Be sure to include the CFDA number and title for the program, your agency’s DUNS number, and the title of the project you proposed. If you copy your Congressional representative on the letter as well, the Congressional staff can help you follow up.

Hope this helps with your future endeavors!

- FireGrantsHelp Team

Odds of Still Getting Funded?

2011-02-11T11:33:00.000-08:00

Good morning. I read your article from late 2010 reagrading what to do if your AFG grant application was turned down. My department was successful in obtaining a second round 2008 AFG grant. We have not heard anything to this point for 2010. I know we made it to peer review but no 1199A or 10 questions. I believe the grants are about half way done. If we have not heard anything to this point are the odds we are still in the running for funding pretty low? Thank you.

Hello,

I think the grant announcements are about 40% done. If you haven’t heard anything yet you are still in the running. Normally you will get your questions about 2-3 weeks before the announcement is made by your congressman or senator. I know of a department that just received their questions on Tuesday. If I were you I wouldn’t make any judgments yet and wait until you hear one way or the other.

- FireGrantsHelp Team

Help! First Time Applying for Grants

2011-02-09T11:08:00.000-08:00

" We have no clue when it comes to grants and it will be our first time applying, what should I do first?"

If you haven't already taken a look at our website, Firegrantshelp.com, we suggest that you go ahead and do that. Our Grants 101 page is a helpful 5 step tutorial for those who would like to learn more about grants and the application process.

Another suggestion, since it'll be your first time applying, is for you to fill out a Direct Assistance Form for all the categories your department is interested in. We will review the submitted forms and contact your department shortly to discuss the projects your department is interested in, often times leading to a complementary grant review service.

We look forward to hearing from you!

- FireGrantsHelp Team

Grant Review Service and Pricing

2011-02-07T11:05:00.000-08:00

I was wondering if you could tell me a little more about the pricing of your "Grant Review" service. Is it free? If not what is the cost per review?

Our grant review service is complimentary for almost all categories if you fill out a Direct Assistance Request form found off of our grant assistance page. On this page you will also find more information pertaining to the type of assistance we offer. If your project is not on this list, email us at expert@firegrantshelp.com and we will gladly follow up with a customized quote for our review service.

Hope this helps!
- FireGrantsHelp Team

Possibilities in Applying for Multiple Grants

2011-02-04T10:48:00.000-08:00

I have a questoin about the number of Grants that my department can submit. Is there a limit to how many Grants we can submit for review? What about if all the grants are directed for different needs?

Hello,

There is no limit to how many grants a department can submit for review, as long as the deparment has submitted a Lead Form Request.

As far as a limit for submitting grants with all different needs, there is no limit for that either. In fact, we encourage all departments to look at multiple sources of funding to increase the chances of receiving grant money. If you plan on applying for multiple grants to fulfills various needs, we suggest you fill out multiple Lead Form Requests.

Let us know if you need anymore help.

- FireGrantsHelp Team

How to... Obtain a D-U-N-S number

2011-02-02T11:36:00.000-08:00

"what is a D-U-N-S number and where can I obtain one?"

A DUNS number is a unique nine-character number that identifies your organization. It is used so the federal government can track how federal money is being distributed.

To obtain a DUNS your organization can receive one free of charge by using the Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) online registration. The following information is needed:

•Name of organization
•Organization address
•Name of the CEO/organization owner
•Legal structure of the organization (corporation, partnership, proprietorship)
•Year the organization started
•Primary type of business
•Total number of employees (full and part time)

Hope this helps!
- FireGrantsHelp Team

Applying for Grants Basic 101 Tutorial

2011-01-31T11:12:00.000-08:00

"I have applied to grants in the past but always have been unsuccessful - do you have any tips or guides that may be able to help me?"

At FireGrantsHelp we are here to help you be as successful as you can with the grant process. One of our top resources for applying for fire and ems grants can be found on our Grants 101 section, which can be found on our FireGrantsHelp homepage. Grants 101 is a 5 step tutorial that helps you identify, apply and secure fire and ems grants.

Hope this helps, and good luck!

- FireGrantsHelp Team

Testimonials

2011-01-28T11:34:00.000-08:00

I read that Firegrantshelp offer grant review and grant writing services but I am hesitant. Do you have any testimonials about the services you offer? Thank you

Sure... feel free to read our testimonials here.

Thanks - FireGrantsHelp Team

Help... Looking For a More Specific Grant

2011-01-26T11:15:00.000-08:00

This week we just got approved for an AFG grant for equipment but not a truck grant. We are still trying to find funds to buy a quick attack truck. Any info on a new or used unit would be helpful.

Thanks.

We would be happy to assist your department in locating a grant for an attack truck. When you get a moment, please tell us a little more information about your department by filling the form here: http://www.firegrantshelp.com/fire-vehicles-direct-assistance-request-form/.

We will be in contact with you shortly to speak further about your truck project and hopefully locate a few grants your department may be eligible to apply for.

Thank you!

- FireGrantsHelp Team

New Fitness Facility Funding Opportunities

2011-01-21T11:03:00.000-08:00

Hello, my department is in the process of creating a new fitness facility and program. Are there any grants available that we may be able to apply for?

Hi, thanks for the question. Yes, there are many grants out there that can offer you assistance in that area. A couple of the larger federal grants that your department may want to look at are the SAFER Grant or the AFG Grant. Foundation grants will also cover this project. You can also fill out this form to get free grant research and application help here for your fitness project: http://www.firegrantshelp.com/fitness-equipment-direct-assistance-request-form/ :

Stay safe,
- FireGrantsHelp Team

New Fire Department Needs Help Getting Started with Grants

2011-01-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

Hi there,

I am part of a fire department where we have very limited funding to spend on equipment needed to safely protect our community. I was wondering how to pick up some extra funds for my department. This is completely new to me, and I’m a bit overwhelmed.

Thanks!

That’s a great question and it’s not common to feel overwhelmed when you’re new to a certain situation. We actually have a great web guide http://www.firegrantshelp.com/grants-101/ that will walk you through how to get started on your grant project

If you would like further assistance with preparing or writing your grant, we can help there too with our grant writers. Email sarah.wilson@firegrantshelp.com if you are interested in grant writing help.

Good Luck!
-FireGrantsHelp Team

Eligible Activities for the SAFER Grant

2011-01-17T11:27:00.000-08:00

Can the SAFER grant be used to fund activities for retention such as picnics, new tv for movie nights, or board games and pool table for game nights?

Hello,
The items you mention are not specifically mentioned under the SAFER R&R section.

Here are some specifics:

Insurances items (AD&D, health, dental, life, etc.), reimbursement for expenses for members attending training, tuition assistance for higher education, responder physicals, recruitment marketing costs, explorer or cadet programs, staffing needs assessments, or the salary and benefits for a recruitment and retention coordinator.

I think you could probably cover the costs of the items that you are talking about through some local or regional grant programs. Additionally, you may try the corporate donation route. The FireGrantsHelp team can assist with all of these, Sarah Wilson, the grants manager, can provide a breakdown of our assistance.

Good Luck!
-FireGrantsHelp Team

A For-Profit Company Wanting to Apply for Grants

2011-01-14T11:25:00.000-08:00

I am the CEO of a for profit company, would I be able to apply for grants?

Since your organization is not a municipal or a 501c3 non profit agency you are not eligible to apply for grants directly.

If you are still interested in pursuing this grant project, I would recommend identifying a non profit partner organization to apply for grants as a pass through for your organization.

Good Luck!
- FireGrantsHelp Team

Financial Help for Class

2011-01-10T10:34:00.000-08:00

I want to go to a paramedic program in Pennsylvania. I am already a Firefighter 1 & 2 and have EMT training at a basic and intermediate level.. How can I get financial help to go to class?

My first thought is to find out if the institution that you want to attend has any type of financial aid or if they have a financial aid officer that might be able to help you. Generally paramedic courses are tied to a community college. Next if you are currently unemployed or underemployed, you should check with the local workforce investment board they may be able to provide you with money for training if you meet certain criteria. Is there a prospective employer if you successfully complete this course? If so, they may have funds available to assist you. If you are a second generation Firefighter or EMT then Boundtree has a scholarship program it is located at boundtree.com/training/scholarships. Last, take a look at fastweb.com the service is free and they claim to have access to over 3 million scholarships. I hope this helped.

Good Luck!
- FireGrantsHelp Team

AFG Turned Me Down, What's Next?

2011-01-07T10:47:00.000-08:00

It looks like our department was turned down for AFG FY 2010 within the first couple of rounds of announcements. What should be my next step?"

If you have received a turndown notice here are some suggested next steps:

- Submit a request to find out why your application was rejected: www.firegrantsupport.com/turndowns

- Read Jerry Brant’s article: What to do if Your AFG Application is Turned Down

- Hire FireGrantsHelp to write your 2011 Application!

If you are interested in additional grant assistance or have other projects that we can help with – please don’t hesitate to contact the team here at FireGrantsHelp!

Sincerely
- FireGrantsHelp Team

Grant Writing Services

2011-01-05T11:37:00.000-08:00

My department needs a grant writer. Do you provide grant writing services?

Yes we do provide grant writing services! All of our grant writers are come from the fire service and are experts in their fields. Our fees are flat and we don’t take a percentage of the award.

If you are interested in grant writing – email Sarah Wilson at sarah.wilson@firegrantshelp.com

For more information on our grant writers: http://www.firegrantshelp.com/fire-grant-writing

Good Luck!
FireGrantsHelp Team

Specifications on the SAFER grant

2011-01-03T07:44:00.000-08:00

I have a few questions about the SAFER grant. What is covered by this grant that can be used for recruitment by a volunteer fire co.? Is there a funding limit? What would you say is the average amount of money dispersed for this grant?

First I’d like to thank you for your e-mail and questions. To directly address what can be covered by recruitment and retention grants, through the SAFER program, I offer the following:
- Insurance packages such as accidental death and dismemberment, disability, health, etc
- Reimbursement to the member for attending required basic training
- Marketing costs to recruit new volunteer members
- Explorer, cadet, and/or mentoring programs
- Tuition assistance for higher education (including college tuition) and professional certifications (funds cannot be used for standard training courses related to the fire service)
- Length of service awards and other retirement benefits
- Other items (as long as you can demonstrate it will help recruit or retain members

From a funding viewpoint:
- Fifteen (15) percent is set aside for the hiring of new firefighters.
- Ten (10) percent is set aside for the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.
- Ten (10) percent is set aside for grants awarded to volunteer or mostly volunteer departments for hiring of firefighters. For the purpose of fulfilling this statutory requirement, DHS considers a department to be “mostly volunteer” if more than 50 percent of its membership is made up of personnel who do not receive financial compensation for their services, other than life, health, and worker’s compensation insurance, or a stipend payment such as paid-on-call. (To satisfy this statutory requirement, it may be necessary to go out of rank order to select a sufficient number of applications in order to meet the 10 percent requirement.)
- If less than ten (10) percent of the funds available for the hiring of firefighters are awarded to volunteer and mostly volunteer fire departments, the remaining funds must be transferred to the component of SAFER providing grants for the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.

There is no limit to funding requests for R&R grants.

As far as the average award for R&R, in 2009 there were 52 total awards and the average was $ 418,743 (this number is skewed as it reflects several statewide recruitment efforts with price tags in the 500,000-1,000,000 range)

Hope this helps!

FireGrantsHelp Team

Air Monitoring Equipment Grants

2010-12-29T10:30:00.000-08:00

Good Morning, I am contacting you from the Office of Emergency Management in Dorchester County, SC. I was looking online for some resources for our local fire departments and ran across your website regarding help with fire grants on certain types of equipment.

I wanted to touch base with someone from your establishment to see if you were aware of any air monitoring equipment grants or assistance in obtaining air monitoring equipment. Some of our departments are looking to get these systems, but being primarily volunteer departments, they do not have access to the funds to purchase them.

Any ideas or resources that might could help us?

Thanks for your time!

We assume you are looking for gas meters( that measure 3 or 4 types). Our regional homeland serurity task force (region 13) got every fire department in our county at least one through a grant from Homeland Security. I believe it was DHS money that the state applies for from project request it gathers in the field. You should talk to your state's Homeland Security Director or equivalent to see if they would entertain such a request. This would be a lot quicker than AFG and a lot less competiitve.

A good resource for locating homeland security office by state: http://www.dhs.gov/files/resources/editorial_0306.shtm

Good Luck,
FireGrantsHelp Team

2011 Fire and EMS conferences and tradeshows

2010-12-15T10:40:00.000-08:00

Hello there - thank you so much for the valuable informaton you provide. I would like to speak to you in person about some of my grant projects. Will you attend any fire or EMS conferences or tradeshows in 2011?

Yes - we post all of our tradeshows and events here:
http://www.firegrantshelp.com/events-calendar and
http://www.emsgrantshelp.com/events-calendar/

We look forward to talking with you,

- FireGrantsHelp Team

SAFER 2010 Hiring Question

2010-12-13T09:03:00.000-08:00

Greetings:

I just have one quick question about a topic regarding the SAFER grant, as I was not able to find it in print when skimming through the DHS documents or anywhere else for that matter.

To give a little overview, my City Dept has recently applied for the 2010 SAFER in hopes to hire 3 Firefighters. A little history about the municiplaity, they currently have a city charter provision that PROHIBITS all full time firefighters from being employed by any other fire dept. other than said municipality.

It has come as a rumor that a provision in the SAFER grant administration, that the above mention charter article has to be revoked (in this case per charter, by the voters) in order to comply with the grant outlined conditions. Thus allowing the current firefighters of the City dept the ability, if they so wish to work on other call/volunteer FD's in other communities.

Is this accurate?

Thanks for the e-mail and question. If you are looking for the particular DHS document that sights "non-discrimination" of volunteering it is located in the 2009 SAFER Guidance Document http://www.firegrantsupport.com/docs/2009SAFERguidance.pdf

Specifically, look on page 27, (f) "Volunteer discrimination: This statement should explain how the applicant plans to meet the requirement ensuring firefighters in positions filled under SAFER Grants are not discriminated against for, or prohibited from, engaging in volunteer activities in another jurisdiction during off-duty hours."

This statement had to be included in your narrative statement in your application. Additionally, this provision is sited in the award responsibilities section (page 38 (10))

Hope this helps!

Respectfully,
FireGrantsHelp

Financial Aid for Paramedic Class

2010-12-08T16:00:00.000-08:00

Have a young man that wants to go to a paramedic program in Penn., He is already a Firefighter 1 & 2 and has EMT training for Basic and Intermediate. How can I get him the financial help to get him to class?

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. My first thought is to find out if the institution that he wants to attend has any type of financial aid or if they have a financial aid officer that might be able to help him. Generally paramedic courses are tied to a community college. Next if he is currently unemployed or underemployed he should check with the local workforce investment board they may be able to provide him with money for training if he meets certain criteria. Is there a prospective employer if he successfully completes this course? If so they may have funds available to assist him. If you are a second generation Firefighter or EMT then Boundtree has a scholarship program it is located at boundtree.com/training/scholarships. Last, take a look at fastweb.com the service is free and they claim to have access to over 3 million scholarships. I hope this helped.

Good Luck,
FireGrantsHelp Team

County Wide Training Facility for Firefighters

2010-12-07T15:42:00.000-08:00

I am a county fire marshal in Bandera County Texas and have 9 volunteer fire departments that serve this county. I am looking for a way to fund/assist funding a county wide training facility thought you might have some info on how to do this through a grant thank you for any assistance you can provide...thank you !!

This is a quit common concern for public safety officials. From your brief email its hard to determine if you are looking for money to build a training facility or if you are searching for funding to develop and deliver training programs.

As far as construction program funding there are several possibilities the first is the USDA Community Facilities Program, which can provide you with grant, and loan dollars to build a training facility. Next you may want to talk to your congressman or senator about acquiring an earmark for the project. The congress had put this type of assistance on hold for 2010 but you may want to check to see if it is available for 2011. As far as I know the senate kept the program, so you may want to talk with your US Senator and see if they can sponsor your request. Also you can look at private foundations in your region, again this is hard to determine because I don't have an dollar amount to know who might be approachable.

From the program delivery side the best thing you can do is to become an accredited training site. In your state I don't know who does this but a good place to start is with your state department of education. To help your case in accreditation you may want to partner with an existing institution of higher education such as a community college and tag onto their accreditation. Doing this may also allow your firefighters to pursue a degree through their program. Having accreditation normally opens the doors for other types of education funding. Good Luck.

-FireGrantsHelp Team

What to do when a funder turns you down...

2010-02-10T11:11:00.000-08:00

Have you ever gotten a rejection letter from a grant maker and didn't know exactly why your grant was not funded? Here are some tips from, Denise Schlegel, one of the grant consultants on FireGrantsHelp and EMSGrantsHelp on what to do when a funder turns you down.

When a funder turns you down you can:

Federal:
If the application was peer reviewed you can ask for a copy of your score sheet which will give you a good idea of what was strong and what was weak .
You may also ask:
What were the strengths and weaknesses of the grant application?
Was the budget acceptable?
Was the required partnership complete?
Was the project designed properly?
What advice would you give me for next year?

State:
Most grants are reviewed internally by the staff . I advise people to call the contact person listed in the application to inquire about the strengths and weaknesses of the application
You may also ask:
What were the strengths and weaknesses of the grant application?
Was the budget acceptable?
Was the required partnership complete?
Was the project designed properly?
What advice would you give me for next year?

Foundations:
Most foundations do not offer feedback.
Some of the larger foundations may if you ask.
You can ask the same questions as above

Happy New Year, SAFER Extension until January 15th and Recent Grant Wins

2010-01-04T16:45:00.000-08:00

Here's to a new year and new decade of grants for the fire and ems teams!!

Just when we all thought the SAFER grants would be due on December 18th (and I thought I would have a quiet Holiday) FEMA decided to extend the deadline to January 15th.

I spoke with one department who submitted their application on December 17th and they were only application #341 on the list of departments submitting the grant. Compare this with AFG who sees applications in the 15,000 range there was certainly a barrier to entry for many departments. I would love to hear if your department is planning on applying for this grant for this cycle? Feel free to comment below or send me an email to sarah.wilson@firegrantshelp.com.

In other recent funding news, the South and Northeast Greene County fire departments in Arkansas were awarded $5,500 in Rural Fire Protection grants. These two departments will use the grants to purchase new equipment such as hydrant valves, nozzles and drop tanks.

The Shelby Fire Department in Mansfield OH was A $1,565 grant from FM Global Cleveland Operations will provide a year's worth of fire prevention materials for the Shelby Fire Department. Shelby FD will use the grant money for 640 coloring books, stickers, 300 plastic fire helmets, 5,500 fliers, 90 smoke detectors and 48 batteries. Way to go Shelby!

Has your department won a grant a lately? I would love to hear about it. Send me your comments or post below.

OH Fire Dept. to get sprinkler/fire house with fire grant funds

2009-11-18T14:11:00.000-08:00

I happen to know the folks at Mobile Concepts pretty well. They make some amazing trailers for fire prevention and education. These trailers are eligible for the largest fire prevention grant available, the FP&S grant. In 2009 it was funded at $35 million. There is no reason to expect it won't be funded at the same level next year. Application period should be late summer, early fall.

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Columbus Fire Dept. to buy sprinkler/fire house
Columbustelegram.com
By Adrian Sanchez

The Columbus Fire Department will have a simulator to educate Columbus and surrounding communities about fire safety following the City Council’s approval Monday of an $82,701 combination sprinkler/fire safety house.

The safety house will be utilizing a 2009 Fire Prevention Safety grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency that will provide 90 percent of the funding with a 10 percent, $8,280 match from the city.

The 30-foot trailer will be able to simulate weather situations, including tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as a 911 phone system with a call-back feature.

The fire chief said the trailer will be an important educational tool to teach children and adults how to respond in emergency situations.

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North New Jersey Fire Dept Receives Fire Prevention Grant

2009-11-12T16:11:00.000-08:00

One of the overlooked grants available for Fire Prevention & Safety projects, FM Global provides a grant program to support a wide array of fire prevention and safety intiatives. This grant is open year round for applications.

FM global is looking to fund the projects that clearly demonstrate a significant impact on preventing commercial and industrial fire losses.

There is no limit on how much funding departments can ask for, but really this should be used to get your department "seed money" to help the project get started.

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Fire Department receives grant
Staff Writer
Waldwick Suburban News

The borough recently received a $2,500 fire prevention grant from Rhode Island-based FM Global, a leading property insurer, to assist emergency responders in pre-fire planning by having the resources to efficiently collect and track data related to local community buildings.

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CDBG funds Fire Vehicles for Tennessee Departments

2009-11-06T15:34:00.000-08:00

It always warms my heart to see other opportunites that fund fire vehicles outside of the AFG Vehicle grant application. The CDBG is a great alternative especially if your response area serves a population with moderate or low income.

There are two ways to access CDBG funds either through the State Administered CDBG or if your area is within an Entitlement Community. Entitlement communities are generally larger cities or urban areas while the State administered CDBG program focuses on the smaller, rural cities and towns.

Contact your local municipal or county officials for more information on this grant - make sure they know about your vehicle project... if your local government or State officials cannot answer your questions, contact the HUD field office.

Happy funding!

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Gleason, Palmersville awarded grants
Staff Writer
nwtntoday.com

Governor Phil Bredesen and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Matthew Kisber recently approved more than $28 million in Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) to assist with infrastructure improvements in Tennessee.

Of those funds, Weakley County will gain more than $375,000 reserved for Palmersville and the City of Gleason.

One of the grants received in the amount of $186,168 will benefit the Palmersville Fire Department and allow the rural department to purchase a new fire truck.

Funding for the $204,580 project will include $18,412 in local funds.

A second grant announced by the state will benefit the City of Gleason as it looks to make infrastructure improvements.

Gleason was awarded $190,217 to purchase a new fire truck for its department.
The project will cost approximately $196,100 with $5,883 of that amount in local funds.

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SAFER 2009 Gets posted....

2009-11-04T11:15:00.000-08:00

The much anticipated SAFER 2009 has been announced with an opening date of 16 Nov 2009 at 0800. Since the federal government has made changes to this years program through stimulus funding and rules changes make sure that your agency is prepared to review the Program Guidance that will be released as this grant opens for submissions.

There are several key things to remember when applying for funding under this grant program. Although the rules have changed, your agency and community must be prepared to handle funding for the additional personnel as well as the continuation of recruitment and retention programs once the grant funding has expired.

Remember, the SAFER grants are designed to fund two primary purposes. These two purposes are 1) hiring new firefighters to attain compliance with NFPA and OSHA regulations and 2) recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.

Part one can be obtained by any fire department that meets the minimum requires such as having a DUNS number. You can find information at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/grants/duns_num_guide.pdf to obtain your DUNS number if you do not have one currently. Part 2 of the program can be obtained by Volunteer or Combination departments. For the purposes of this grant, combination departments are classified as those agencies who are made up of more than 50% volunteers on their rosters.

Many people place their funding in peril because they do not follow the regulations for the entire grant process. Prior grant guidance documents for this program have mentioned that the grants administrators can require your agency to provide documentation from your governing organization prior to the awarding that they are committed to the entire 5 year process.

We wish you well in this endevour and hope that you are able to use this wonderful asset to grow your organization to a point they are able to increase the level of service provided to the public, and most of all as a method to ensure our safety as firefighters and that each and every firefighter, EMT, paramedic, and police officer are able to return home after their shift.

Stay Safe...

Federal Grant eases fire crew shortage in Indiana

2009-10-29T16:56:00.000-07:00

The SAFER grants support two specific activities: (1) the hiring of firefighters, and (2) recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. SAFER is part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants and is under the Office of Grants and Training of the Department of Homeland Security.

We expect this grant to re-open for applications in December 2009.

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Grant eases fire crew shortage

Danville Fire Chief Mark Morgan admits his department has been so understaffed it had left him uneasy about the safety of residents he was trying to protect.

"Every day, I worried that somebody might lose their life, because we couldn't get there in time," he said. "Especially when our crews had to take someone to a hospital in Indianapolis, I really got concerned."

A recent federal grant awarded to the department to help staff budget-constrained fire departments should give Morgan a little peace of mind.

Continued...

Tennessee GHSO Grants fund rural fire department for EMS training and equipment

2009-10-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

The Governor’s Highway Safety Office provides grants to programs which are designed to reduce the number of fatalities, injuries and related economic losses resulting from traffic crashes on Tennessee’s roadways.

Local governments, academic institutions, and private non-profits can apply for National Highway Safety Transportation Administration pass-through funding for projects related to various areas of highway safety. EMS training and equipment is an eligible area of funding under this grant.

We expect this grant to be available in 2010 with an estimated due date in April.

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Grant awarded to local fire department
NASHVILLE - State Rep. Mike Bell and State Sen. Dewayne Bunch have announced more than $35,000 in grants have been awarded to three local communities. The announcement comes after notification of the grants by the Governor's Highway Safety Office.

The Etowah Rescue and Rural Fire Department has been awarded $10,871 for emergency medical first responder training and equipment.

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Iowa Area Fire organizations receive IWF grants

2009-10-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

Iowa West Foundation Grants(IWF) fund a variety of community iniatives in southwest Iowa and eastern Nebraska, the primary focus being Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County with a secondary focus on contiguous counties.

Iowa Area Organizations Receive IWF Grants
The Pottawattamie County Firefighters Association received $100,000 in funding from IWF for volunteer fire department equipment. Departments include Carson Volunteer Fire Department, Crescent Fire & Rescue, Hancock Fire Department, McClelland Fire Department, Minden Volunteer Fire & Rescue and Walnut Volunteer Fire Department.

Continued...

Georgetown MA Fire Department gets wildfire grant

2009-10-23T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Massachusets VFA grant is available to non-profit rural or volunteer fire departments that primarily serve a community or city with a population of less than 10,000. The fire department must be made up of at least eighty percent (80%) call or volunteer firefighters. More information on this grant here

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Georgetown MA Fire Department gets wildfire grant

The Georgetown Fire Department has been awarded a Department of Conservation and Recreation Volunteer Fire Assistance grant to help purchase wildfire-related gear.

The grant money will be used for a program Fire Chief Al Beardsley began last year providing all Georgetown firefighters with a set of brush fire gear. Beardsley will be purchasing 10 additional sets of pants, coats and helmets — five paid for by the grant, the other five through the department’s budget.

Continued...

Crisp Fire and Rescue receives grant

2009-10-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

CORDELE — Recently, Crisp County Fire and Rescue was able to purchase some much needed equipment and supplies thanks to a grant applied for on their behalf by a local campground. The Cordele KOA recommended CCFR for the grant, in the amount of $10,000, which came from the Fireman’s Fund through the Heritage Program of Leavitt Recreation and Hospitality Insurance. The company, based in Sturgis, South Dakota, specializes in RV parks and campgrounds.

“We insure campgrounds and RV parks all over the country,” said “Jimmy Tumblin of Leavitt Insurance. “The Heritage program issues grants all over the country. Campground owners/managers can recommend their hometown departments to receive the grant.”

Continued...

The Fireman's Fund Heritage Program is a national community-based program that provides funds for equipment, fire prevention tools, firefighter training, fire safety education and community emergency response programs. More information on this grant can be found here

The Newest Magic Trick - Vanishing Grant Monies

2009-07-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

If you have been keeping up with grant news like I have recently you will have heard some disturbing news. There are those in Washington that believe that the monies set aside for fire service grants, such as the Fire Prevention, SAFER, and AFG, are wasteful and do not provide the improvement in areas of fire fatalities that they believe they should.

The Heritage Foundation, in a news release that can be found (http://www.heritage.org/Research/Economy/wm2499.cfm) shows that after a study conducted by Center for Data Analysis DHS grants funds are failing to reduce the number of fire related deaths including firefighters, other responders, and the general public.

One of the biggest messages that I took out of my grant education was the interaction needed between Fire Service Administrators and the elected officials that govern the areas in which they serve. Taking this thought to heart, there is no better time than now to put these officials on our speed dial and call or visit their offices to let them know that the First Responders of America need this funding and it is vital to continue the respond of those that respond first to any incident affecting the communities within our borders.

Take a look at the article, review the information, take it to heart and work to educate those we elect to run our country.

As always, with grant processes we must remain prepared for anything that may come our direction.

Stay Safe!

Fire Grants on The Kitchen Table

2009-06-08T09:42:00.000-07:00

Our partner site, FireRescue1.com, is hosting a 'roundtable discussion' on The Kitchen Table blog focusing on fire grants. The theme is 'Fire Grants in 2009' -- check it out at http://thekitchentable.firerescue1.com/search/label/grants_2009 and share your own tips and experiences in the comments.

Good luck this year!

Secret of NIMS

2009-04-27T16:34:00.000-07:00

One of the simplest requirements to qualify for the federal grants is NIMS Compliance. Not only is the basic required class available online it’s also free. Your department has no excuses not to be 100% compliant.

National Incident Management System Compliance or NIMS is a comprehensive, national approach to incident management that is applicable to all jurisdictional levels across all functional disciplines.

NIMS provides a consistent nationwide framework and approach to enable government at all levels (Federal, State, tribal, and local), the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to work together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of incidents regardless of the incident’s cause, size, location, or complexity.

The intent of NIMS has two parts. 1) Be applicable across a full spectrum of potential incidents and hazard scenarios, regardless of size or complexity and 2) improved coordination and corporation between public and private entities in a variety of domestic incident management activities. It is highly recommended that departments follow current and future instructions issued by the NIMS Integration Center. You should be fully prepared in any grant application to discuss and relate your agency’s compliance with NIMS.

National Incident Management System, An Introduction – IS 700 is offered free of charge through the Emergency Management Institute

Really all members of agencies should have NIMS-700, NRP-800, and ICS 100. Additionally, someone within the agency should have ICS-200, 300 and 400.
http://www.fema.gov/txt/emergency/nims/nims_imp_act.txt