The start of the fiscal year 2007 application period for the grants, announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security last week, ends May 4. Applications are available online at three locations: http://www.firegrantsupport.com, http://www.usfa.fema.gov and http://www.grants.gov.
AFG awards assist first-responder organizations in purchasing response equipment, personal protective equipment, and vehicles. Awards are allocated through two AFG programs:
- The Operations and Safety program prioritizes funding for activities such as training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities.
- The Vehicle Acquisition program prioritizes funding for assets such as brush trucks, tankers and tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, aerials, foam units and fireboats.
AFG awards are determined on a competitive basis. Fire service professionals representing the nine major fire service organizations select the applications that best fulfill AFG program priorities.
Applicants will be encouraged to submit projects that involve more than one jurisdiction and further integrate regional response capabilities.