DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ANNOUNCES APPLICATION PERIOD FOR ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS AND SAFER GRANTS

03/23/2005

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is accepting applications for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) grant program.  The deadline for receipt of the AFG fire grant applications is 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on April 8, 2005.  DHS also announced that the application period for the AFG Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants will begin on May 31, 2005 and continue through June 28, 2005.  Fire Prevention and Firefighter Safety grant applications will be accepted in September 2005.

The applications are automated and accessible via the AFG website: www.firegrantsupport.com.     This website contains useful background information on AFG program priorities and program guidance, as well as a tutorial on applying for each program and other useful materials.  Fire departments that have questions regarding these grant opportunities should contact the Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 or email firegrants @dhs.gov.

The AFG is administered by the Department of Homeland Security¿s Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP).  The AFG program assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States.  In addition, in 2005, the AFG allows for non-fire based EMS organizations to apply for grants. These funds are used by the nation¿s firefighters to increase the effectiveness of firefighting and emergency response operations, to improve firefighter health and safety programs.

DHS OPENS APPLICATION PERIOD FOR SAFER GRANTS
05/31/2005

Eligible applicants for SAFER grants include fire departments (for the hiring of firefighters) and state or local organizations as well as volunteer and combination fire departments (for volunteer recruitment and retention grants). Applicants will note that the SAFER application is very similar in appearance to the "fire grants" application, but all applicants are strongly encouraged to read the program guidance, and utilize all other materials at the AFG website.

The AFG is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. Through the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2005, Congress provided $65 million for the SAFER grants.