LESS THAN 10 DAYS REMAIN BEFORE THE ASSISTANCE TO FIREFIGHTERS GRANT PERIOD CLOSES

03/29/2006

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program office is reminding fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical organizations that less than ten days now remain in the FY 2006 fire grant application period.  The application period for AFG began March 6, 2006 at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time and ends at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on April 7, 2006.  If you have started an application, please be sure to COMPLETE IT AND SUBMIT IT before the deadline.  All applications must be submitting (hit the submit button in the online application) to be considered for a grant award.  Once an application is submitted electronically, an automatic notification via email is sent that we have received it. 

Through the morning of March 27 a total of 1,313 applications have been submitted.  This compares to 2.045 submitted to this point in last year's (2005) application period.  AFG makes available competitive grants for equipment, training, firefighter and first responder safety and response vehicles.  AFG applications are automated and accessible via the AFG web site:  www.firegrantsupport.com.  The web site contains important information on the AFG, including the FY2006 funding priorities and program guidance, a web based tutorial on the application process, a listing of frequently asked questions, and other materials.  Fire departments that have questions regarding this grant opportunity should contact the Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 or at firegrants@dhs.gov.

The AFG is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Grants and Training (G&T) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.  The AFG program assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States.  In addition, the AFG accepts applications from nonaffiliated EMS organizations for the activities (equipment, training, vehicles, etc.) for which fire departments are also eligible to apply.

The AFG program office offers three grant opportunities each year. 

• AFG "fire grant" funds are used by the nation's firefighters and first responders to increase the effectiveness of firefighting and emergency response operations. 
• SAFER grants provide funding for the hiring of firefighting personnel and incentives for volunteer recruitment and retention.  The application period for SAFER grants is schedule for June of 2006.
• Fire Prevention and Safety grants support not only fire departments, but also other organizations experienced in fire prevention and in firefighter safety research.  The AFG program office will open up the application period for these grants in September 2006.

Through the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2006, Congress provided $648 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants, with $108 million of the funding specified for SAFER grants and a minimum of $27 million for the Fire Prevention and Safety grants.