AFG Grants Program for Fiscal Year 2009 to Open on Tax Day!
This just in from AFG Grants home office:
Application Period to Open:
Fiscal Year 2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grant The Department of Homeland Security has posted the FY2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program Guidance on the AFG Website. The application period is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Applications for these grants must be received by Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
Get your grants ready there is only a short window of opportunity to apply!
Lives Saved in Herman, Maine with AFG Grant
The AFG Program awarded the Herman Fire Department funding for their fire prevention program in January of 2005. The purpose of the award was to install smoke alarms equipped with 10-year lithium batteries, in every home in Herman, Maine. Herman is a small community of 4,400 people in the eastern part of the state of Maine.
The specifics of the project were to meet the protection recommendations of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This recommendation calls for an alarm outside every bedroom or hallway, one smoke alarm on every level of the home including the basement, and a smoke alarm in every room that could be considered a sleeping quarter.
Execution of the program started in April of 2005. The installers started at one end of town and proceeded to the other end with the installation of the alarms in every house. The homes that had existing alarms had their batteries replaced with the 10-year lithium cells. Chief Larry Willis was quoted as saying; “The race was on to see if we could complete the project before we had a serious incident in a residence that had not yet been visited”.
The alarm at the firehouse in Herman went off at 3:42 a.m. on December 27, 2005. The fire department responded to the alarm and arrived at a house on Mapleleaf Lane where a report of smoke had been detected. A malfunction in the furnace of the house set off the smoke alarm in the basement. This smoke alarm was placed there less than 2 months prior as part of the AFG funded program. Upon arriving at the scene, the firefighters found flames pouring out of the firebox and the entire house filled with smoke. But due to the early warning of the smoke alarms, the entire family was safely outside the residence.
As a result of the program in Herman, two thirds of all the homes are now equipped with smoke detectors. The Herman fire department still has smoke alarms available for any resident that wishes to have them installed.
The AFG program is so very important and this is a good example of lives saved due to the benefit of this grant money.
Click Here for Help with: AFG Grant Application.
AFG New for Fiscal Year 2009 Part IV (concluded)
Continuing on with what is new with the AFG program for the fiscal year 2009. This information is the first to be released and is in the form of a presentation. There was no narrative to go along with the facts and numbers.
The description of what the panelists are looking for in a narrative is continued with the description of the financial needs of your project.
Describe in detail why you need the grant award from the federal government. List the income of your facility and describe all of your expenditures. If your facility is in the red, state so. Describe the alternative fund raising events you and your personnel have undertaken. If the local community also holds fundraising events for your group, describe them and the amounts raised. Explain the health of your community – did a major employer or plant recently close down, for example.
Cost to benefit ratio is a vital part of the financial section of a narrative. Include the frequency of use of items to be purchased. How these items will improve your daily operations and abilities to serve your community better. Do your research and find the best economical solution for your needs. Clearly state the consequences of not receiving the proper funding. Do not be shy to mention if your facility is facing closure.
Thoroughly describe how this grant will improve the safety of the firefighters and reduce the loss of life and property in the community in which it serves. How often will the equipment funded by the AFG award be used – daily or weekly? Give some serious thought on how to measure the effective use of the award.
This concludes this four part series.
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AFG New for Fiscal Year 2009 Part III
Continuing on with what is new with the AFG program for the fiscal year 2009. This information is the first to be released and is in the form of a presentation. There was no narrative to go along with the facts and numbers.
The use of excess funds has changed somewhat this year. With approval from the DHS in an amended request filed by the applicant, 50% of excess funds can be allocated for training and /or wellness and fitness initiative.
The importance of a good, persuasive, and descriptive narrative cannot be emphasized enough. All grant opportunities require a narrative and each element must be specific when addressed. There are four separate areas that are required to be addressed. Make sure they are thoroughly addressed, precise, and accurate. These four areas are:
1) Project Description and Budget Required
2) Financial Needs
3) The Cost to Benefit Ratio of the Project
4) The Positive Effects on the Daily Operations and the Community
Key points of a narrative the panelists are looking for were written with input from the panelists themselves. The better an application follows their guide, the better the chances of approval.
1) Write the narrative so that the needs are clear. Remember that your peers are on the review panel – convince them that your need is real and necessary.
2) Include all local information and statistics that pertain to your project. Leave out any mention of national statistics.
3) Only provide needed information for the panelist to read. If a fact is well known, do not repeat it. A wordy narrative is not persuasive, just annoying.
4) Include the training program at your facility and the compliance percentage. If you are not yet at 100% compliance, state the plan on how you will achieve this goal.
5) Clearly describe who you are.
6) Be very specific where you and your facility are located, and the size of the community you provide protection for.
7) Identify the risk to your protection area and what problems the lack of funding has caused.
8) Present a clearly thought out plan to resolve the risk or problem you are looking to fix.
9) What, if any, local or federal standard will be in compliance once your project is completed
10) Describe in detail the budget and overall cost of the project. Be thorough but do not get greedy.
To be continued…
Click Here for Help with: AFG Grant Application.
AFG New for Fiscal Year 2009 Part II
Continuing on with what is new with the AFG program for the fiscal year 2009. This information is the first to be released and is in the form of a presentation. There was no narrative to go along with the facts and numbers.
For regional applications, the stress was on the communication plan that must be in compliance with the statewide communication inter-operability plan that requires pre-approval from the Department of Homeland Security.
In the Wellness and Fitness category, there are new stipulations. These usually occur when money was not spent as expected and a loophole was found. This will close that loophole. Salaries or consulting fees are NOT eligible for funding under the AFG program for nutritionists or fitness trainers. In addition, incentives to get the people of your department to participate and stay in shape in these programs will also be unfunded. Priorities for this category are also clearly defined. The highest are entry-level physicals for new recruits. This is followed by physical assessments for active fire and EMS personnel, and thirdly, immunization of fire and EMS personnel. The next level of priorities is fire and EMS personnel physical agility assessments, and physical fitness equipment.
New for the EMS rescue squads focus this year is the level of response in their services. The focus this year is to elevate the level from Basic Life Support (BLS) to Advanced Life Support (ALS).
Eligible modifications to existing facilities are also better defined this year. Stations or firehouses with 24-hour occupancy that include sleeping accommodations are the highest priority. Higher priority than last year is the exhaust extraction systems of firehouses to help keep the occupants free of unnecessary contamination and exposure to hazardous gases. It is also clearly stated that structures built after 2003 are not eligible for any funding for any modification.
The vehicle acquisition program has restated requirements for compliance from fire and EMS personnel. These are common sense but there must be a reason for their emphasis to state them. All recipients of an AFG award for vehicle acquisition must comply with chapter 6 of the NFPA 1500 Standard on Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program. The standard operating procedure (SOP) also requires all personnel in a vehicle to wear seatbelts and the drivers to obey all traffic laws including traffic lights and signs.
Note: consider a Ward Diesel NO SMOKE or NO SMOKE 2 Diesel Exhaust Extraction System.
To be continued…
Click Here for Help with: AFG Grant Application.
What’s New for AFG Fiscal Year 2009 Part I
For the fiscal year 2009, DHS has released details of the AFG federal grant program. This year the funds allocated are $565 million. That is a $5 million increase from the year 2008. This includes $35 million of the funds allocated for the AFG program from the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP & S) program. This information is the first to be released and is in the form of a presentation. There was no narrative to go along with the facts and numbers.
New for this year is the AFG requirement of a local cash match based on the population of the community to be served. For communities over 50,000 people, a 20% cash match is required. For communities with a population between 20,000 and 50,000, a 10% cash match is required and for a population under 20,000 there is only a 5% cash match required. Unchanged from last year is the maximum federal funding versus population amounts – 500,000 people or less have a max of $1 million, 500,000 to 1,000,000 population areas have a limit of $1,750,000, and more than a million people have an upper limit of $2,750,000 in federal funds allowed under the AFG program.
In the review process this year, an emphasis on population protected and call volume was mentioned. This has always been included but in this presentation, this point was in large letters to get the point across. Remember this when filling out your application.
Training is again stressed this year. Each application must include the percentage of active firefighters trained to NFPA 1001. If your department has not attained 100% compliance, you will have to explain how you will get accomplished.
To help in the review process when it comes to determining the needs of an applicant’s department, all applications this year must include a detailed inventory of existing equipment and protective clothing. Age of said equipment and condition should be included in this list. A high priority this year is the replacement of old Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA). Those with SCBA that are in compliance with NFPA 1997 standards are of low priority.
To be continued…
Click Here for Help with: AFG Grant Application.
Using and accessing the Automated Grant Application to Apply for the AFG Program
To apply for free federal grant money from the AFG program, applicants must file electronically. The applications are available at three different websites. They are the AFG website (www.firegrantssupport.com), the U.S. Fire Administration’s website (www.usfa.fema.gov), and at the federal governments grant website (www.grants.gov). To assist applicants with their applications, help screens and drop menus are used through out sites. Your application can be saved and stored as many times as you wish provided the deadline for submission has not passed.
Once you submit your application, the process for evaluating it starts. No changes or updates are permitted once the application is submitted. Make sure your application is prepared properly and completed before you press the submission button.
It is advised to use the application tutorial before you submit your application. The tutorial can be access at the web site www.firegrantssupport.com. The tutorial explains the grant program and provides helpful tips to the applicant.
The narrative is a challenging part of the application for most applicants. Professional writers my be hired to write this part but the person or department making the submission has sole responsibility for the content of the application. Any false or misleading information will make your application ineligible. Furthermore, your information will be submitted to the DHS for further action if necessary.
Paper applications are accepted but discouraged. The process time of a paper application is greater. In addition, all follow-ups, modifications, and reporting must be made on paper also. If the internet is not accessible and a paper application is chosen for submission by your department, then call to request a paper application. The application you receive from DHS is the only eligible paper application. If an application comes from any other source or last year’s paper application, this will be deemed ineligible.
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Application Details for the AFG Free Federal Grant Money
There are several areas on the application for the AFG program for the applicant to fill out in order to qualify for the free federal grant money available. Each area is important and must be filled out in its entirety. Each applicant is responsible for all the content within the application.
The general question section deals with questions that will put you in a category according to where you are located and what is in your coverage area. In the application you will have to identify if you are located in an urban, suburban or rural community. Other facts that are needed are the population, water supply, land use, number of fire stations, number of calls responded to each year, the number of abandoned structures over 4 stories tall in your area. Applicants declare what type of area they are located, but with the other information the DHS might consider your classification different. If this is so, you will be prompted to justify why you feel your area is what you claim in a short narrative. The type of community you cover is important since each type has different priorities and is allocated different amounts of funding.
The next section is activity specific for the program area or activity. Answer all the questions that apply to your project.
The last is the all-important narrative. This is the written portion that should persuasively convince the panelist that your need is justified. The contents of the narrative should include all the details of the project or activity including budgetary, benefits to the surrounding community, enhance daily operations of the recipients, impact the ability to protect lives and property. And emphasize the ability to protect the infrastructure of your coverage area. The narrative has a space limitation of 5 pages. It is recommended that the narrative be first typed on a word processor and then cut and pasted into the appropriate area. If your narrative is too long, the excess will be cut off electronically and not included in your application.
Remember your application can only be submitted once for the federal grant money from the AFG program. Review and check your application carefully before submitting.
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Regulations and Standards for Fire and Rescue Departments
Some things to take into consideration while you are applying for an AFG grant are covered in this article. It is not enough to just say you need a new fire truck. You will want to include statistics and data that relate to your company’s policies and that you should refer to regulations and standards for Fire and Rescue Departments.
State and federal regulations and laws apply to the operations of the fire fighter and rescue personnel. The most important that has mandatory minimum requirements for health and safety are from the state and federal OSHA agencies. The laws that their regulations are based on are to ensure all employers comply with providing a safe and known hazard-free workplace for all of its employees. Civil fines and criminal prosecution can result in neglecting or violating their regulations whether state or federal.
Governmental agencies are not the only organizations that have an input into the safety and well-being of the fire fighters and rescue personnel. Other organizations that issue non-binding standards are the National Fire Protection Association, and the American National Standards Institute. Another set of groups that help support the training sector of standards are the International Fire Service Training Association, and the National Association for Search and Rescue. Although these private groups and associations do set their own high standards and make recommendations, these are not binding by law. These groups indeed contribute to the overall safety and training of our fire fighting and rescue personnel. Their recommendations and sets of standards are thoroughly researched and thought out that many have been incorporated into state and federal laws and regulations. Those that have are then required to be followed by law or penalties will be assessed.
The impact of the state and federal laws along with the volunteer standards must always be considered. Even though fire fighters and rescue workers have immunity statute from lawsuits, grossly negligent acts by fire and rescue departments are not covered. In some court cases, the voluntary standards are so well written and meaning that they are, in effect, an enforceable standard of care. The protection of the citizens as well as the fire fighter and rescue workers should always be the primary consideration. Be sure to mention the appropriate parts of this in your AFG Fire Grants application.
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Health Hazards of Diesel Exhaust The Montana Report Part II
This a continuation from the first part of the report issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Bureau of the Montana Department of Labor and Industry issued to Montana state employees.
There were studies conducted on animals to see if there were other dangerous effects of diesel exhaust other than inhalation. It was found that if extracts of diesel exhaust came in direct contact with the skin of mice, cancer of the skin developed. Diesel exhaust gases were also found to damage the lungs and reduce the laboratory animals’ immune system. This made the test animals more vulnerable to bacterial infection. Some test animals were exposed to high concentrations of diesel exhaust and a reduction in activity and loss of motor skills were exhibited.
Because of the damaging findings found on both human and animal subjects, the State of Montana came up with guidelines to protect its employees. Low-emission engines are to be purchased to replace older, high polluting diesel engines. Another alternative was to use propane-burning engines as a power source.
Better ventilation for garages, warehouses, and other enclosed areas where diesel engines operate is also needed. This is to include intake and exhaust fans as well as tailpipe and stack hoses, where appropriate.
Other safe work practices were also instituted. The diesel fuel purchased and used in state vehicles should be of the lower emission-producing grade of K1, and regular maintenance and checks for all diesel equipment. All diesel equipment should have emission control devices installed and regularly checked including air filters, scrubbers, and ceramic particle traps. Prolonged idling of diesel engines should be avoided. The passenger compartments of vehicles should be checked and weather-stripped to prevent fumes from seeping into passenger compartments. Avoid contaminating of the diesel fuel itself and, lastly, avoid lugging at low RPM’s when operating a diesel engine.
The appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) should be used at all times. For diesel exhaust, an air-purifying respirator is needed following OSHA’s standard 29 CFR 1910.134.
The most important factor in the safety manual is the people involved. Proper training of people and stress on the use of this knowledge is of the utmost importance.
Consider a NO SMOKE Diesel Exhaust System when applying for your AFG Grant.
