On November 1, 2013, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced, via the attached FEDERAL REGISTER notice, the availability of $288 million in firefighter assistance grants for FY 2013. Tribes, tribal organizations, Alaska Native villages, and Alaska Native Regional Corporations are among the eligible applicants. Applications are due by December 6, 2013.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program makes grants directly to fire departments, non-affiliated emergency medical services (EMS) organizations and state fire training academies for the purpose of enhancing the abilities of first responders to protect the health and safety of the public as well as that of first responder personnel facing fire and fire related hazards.
Categories of Funding. Funding is provided under two categories: Operations and Safety Funding Priorities and Vehicles Acquisition, which are further detailed in the notice and which may include:
Operations and Safety Funding Priorities
• Training Activities
• Equipment Acquisition
• Personal Protective Equipment Acquisition
• Wellness and Fitness Activities
• Modifications to Facilities
Vehicles Acquisition Program
• Compliance with Standards
• Vehicle Funding Priorities
• Additional Considerations
Availability of Funding. This is a competitive grant program. Of the expected 10,000-15,000 applications, FEMA estimates it will be able to fund approximately 4,000. The amount of funding a grantee may receive is based upon population size within the grantee’s jurisdiction. Grantees serving a jurisdiction of 100,000 or fewer persons may receive up to $1 million; those serving 100,000-500,000 may receive up to $2 million; 500,000-1 million up to $3 million; 1 million-2.5 million up to $6 million and 2.5 million and above up to $9 million. Additionally, applicants may elect to apply for a Micro Grant in an amount of $25,000 or less under the Operations and Safety Funding Priorities category.
Cost Sharing. Cost sharing with non-federal funds is required but varies by population size within the grantee’s jurisdiction. Grantees serving a jurisdiction of 20,000 or fewer persons are required to provide a five percent cost share; grantees serving a jurisdiction of 20,000 to 1 million are required to provide a ten percent cost share; and grantees serving a jurisdiction of 1 million and above are required to provide a 15 percent cost share. In cases of demonstrated economic hardship the Administrator of FEMA may waive or reduce a grantee’s cost share requirement.
Further Information. Further information may be found in the attached FEDERAL NOTICE and at www.fema.gov/firegrants which provides a schedule of webinars and information on preparing quality applications.
Please let us know if we may provide assistance with FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
