Federal Emergency Management Agency

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Federal Emergency Management AgencysU.S. Fire
AdministrationAssistance to Firefighters Grant
Program Applicant Workshop
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FEMA/USFA Assistance(866) 274-0960 ph (866)
274-0942 faxwebsite www.usfa.fema.govemail
usfagrants_at_fema.gov
Regional and State Points of ContactFEMA Region
V Chicago Dennis McCloskey Dennis.McCloskey_at_fe
ma.gov Fire/EMS/Safety Center Warren
Jorgenson wrjorgen_at_tds.net Bruce
Roed broed_at_gvtel.com

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Context of 2002

• FY 01 Experience
• FY02 Goals and Criteria Development
• Congressional/Legislative Actions
• 360 million

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Purpose

• To protect the health and safety of the public
  and firefighting personnel against fire and
  fire-related hazards, and to provide assistance
  for fire prevention programs.

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Grant Program Outline

• Working in partnership with the fire service
  organizations, FEMA/USFA
• Limited funding for FY 2001 to 6 of 14 possible
  categories
• Maximum of two the following
• Fire Prevention
• Firefighting Equipment
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Firefighting Vehicles
• Training
• Wellness and Fitness

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FY 01 Applications

• Applications accepted April 1-May 2, 2001
• 11,000 calls and 8,615 emails
• 18,915 fire departments applied
• 31,295 grant requests totaling 3 billion

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FY 2001 Results

• FEMA/USFA awarded
• 1,886 grants
• to local fire departments and fire service
  organizations totaling
• 96,586,668

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• 2002 GRANT PROGRAM OUTLINE

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Goals accomplished goals in FY 01, but areas for
improvement also identified

• Paper applications were cumbersome and labor
  intensive
• Solution Web-based application
• Provide applicants with additional technical
  assistance
• Solution Attend conferences and hold
  workshops
• Simplify application and fund comprehensive
  programs
• Solution Functional approach

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Functional Approach

• Limit categories but allow FDs to apply for
  ONE program
• Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety
• (Training, Wellness Fitness, Firefighting
  Equipment,
• Personal Protective Equipment)
• Fire Prevention
• (Public Education, Public Awareness, Code
  Enforcement,
• Arson Prevention)
• Emergency Medical Services
• (Equipment, Training)
• Vehicles
• (Pumpers Brush Trucks Tankers Rescue Units
  Ambulance
• Boats Aerials Quints Foam Units)

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Pros of Functional Approach

• Encourages FDs to strategically address
• their critical needs
• Gives FDs flexibility to apply for simple,
  comprehensive solutions
• Results in best applications being funded
• Meets Congressional mandate to simplify
• but keep manageable

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2002 Schedule

• January Publish Federal Register Notice
• March 1 Applications Available On-line
• April 1 Deadline for Applications
• Mid-April Begin Panel Reviews
• April 15-19, 2002
• April 22-26, 2002
• April 29- May 3, 2002
• Mid-May Begin Awarding Grants

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EVALUATION PROCESS

• First -- score answers to questions
• to establish competitive range of
  applications meeting the priorities
• Second -- peer reviewers read narrative for the
  description of the program, cost/benefit, and
  financial need

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Success in Grant Writing

• United States Fire
• Administration

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Compatibility

• How do your needs match the goals and priorities
  of the grant program?
• How will you know?
• How can you best determine compatibility?

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Determining Compatibility

• Conduct community risk assessment
• Evaluate the capabilities of your fire department
• Identify deficiencies
• Formulate plan to correct deficiencies

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Community Profile

• Population Growth or Decline
• Development Growth or Static
• Tax Base (Declining or Growing)
• Type of Development
• Special Hazards (Hazardous Materials, Airport
  etc.)
• Obtain and Provide 5 Year Trends for Each If
  Available

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Community Risk Analysis

• Who is at risk (all hazards)?
• Why are they at risk?
• What types of incidents occur?
• How frequently do incidents occur?
• What is the impact of those incidents?

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Determine Lines of Business

• Fire Suppression
• EMS
• Hazardous Materials Response
• Technical Rescue
• Code Enforcement
• Public Education
• Water Rescue

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Fire Department

• Firefighter Capabilities
• Apparatus
• Personal Protective Clothing
• Equipment
• Facilities (limited support)

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WRITING A SUCCESSFUL

• NARRATIVE

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Project Description

• Must Match to Defined Weaknesses
• Must Have Identifiable Goals
• Must Have Clear Objectives

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Cost/Benefit

• Solution to Your Need Using Lowest Possible
  Amount of Funding
• Willingness to Share With Other Communities If
  Possible

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Financial Need

• Demonstrate attempts at other funding sources
• Local Budget
• Private/public Partnerships
• State Grants
• Taxes

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Financial Need (cont.)

• Difficult circumstances
• Tax Base Eroded or Cant Keep up with Community
  Growth
• Tax Limitation Legislation
• Factory Closed Down
• Cant Sell That Many Hotdogs!

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Project Narrative

• Use Information Gathered in Risk Analysis and
  Community Profile
• Goal Oriented
• Concise!
• Include Itemized List (As Necessary)

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Other Considerations

• Sufficient Details
• Consistency
• Appropriate (Match Needs, Ethical etc.?)
• Reasonable (Good Business?)

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Most Asked Question

• WHICH DEPARTMENTS WIN A GRANT?
• Answer
• THOSE THAT READ THE PROGRAM GUIDANCE
  CAREFULLY AND FOLLOW IT!

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DEPARTMENTS THAT WIN

• Those that best address the programs established
  priorities
• Those with greatest financial need
• Those with activities/requests that provide the
  greatest cost/benefit

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THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING

• ? QUESTIONS ?