STEVE AUSTIN

It won't be long until full details of the 2002 round of Fire Grants are on the street. But it isn't too soon to begin working on your department's proposal. The extraordinary events of 2001 caused Congress to rethink funding levels. With over three times as much money your fire department's odds of landing a grant have improved.

The Fire Administration is working feverishly to prepare an instructional document for eventual publication in the Federal Registry. All of the information pertaining to the project may be found there including instructions for completing the forms and dates of submission. Firehouse.com along with the USFA will have this material as soon as it is released. Unfortunately by the time the rules are published there won't be much time to put a grant package together. Here's where a little pre-planning back at the Station can make a real difference.

First pick you the member of your department who is going to be responsible for the bulk of the work on the application. Be sure your "grant writer" has the support needed from the rest of the department. Choose someone who can articulate an idea clearly and briefly.

Secondly, if you were unsuccessful last year analyze why. The grant program is based on need. If you requested funding for apparatus and your fleet was relatively new, that was a non-starter. Most of the apparatus funding last year went to departments with 25-year-old plus front line pieces mostly if not all of them engines. With about 140 pieces of apparatus funded last year there is still a considerable pent up demand from fire departments that are operating older equipment. If your front line apparatus is newer, your chances are fewer! However nothing in the rules will prevent you from submitting an application.

Likewise, consider other requests for such things as portable equipments and PPE. Did your grant application tie your request to the ability to markedly improving your capabilities or was it justified simply because what you had was old? Applications that show need and connect the request to improving response effectiveness or addressing a new mission can catch the attention of the reviewers. Now is the time to develop that needs and justification statement. Make it succinct and have it ready to plug in when the grant window opens.

What about costing? Equipment suppliers were inundated with price quotes last year. If you know what you are going after, get your prices now before the rush. Be sure they are competitive and accurate.

Line up your matching money. The law authorizing the program sets a 10% match for fire departments serving populations of fewer than 50,000. For all others the match is 30%. Don't be embarrassed by getting an award only to find you can't raise your share.

Don't ignore training or fire prevention needs. Innovation to prepare for an expanded mission or to address a hazard in your community that has affected your fire loss makes for a good application. While others are after the apparatus and equipment, a well-planned and funded training package or prevention program could have a greater impact on your community than a new engine.

Finally the USFA and many of the fire organizations did an outstanding job of providing support during the process last year. All indications are that they are preparing to do even more in 2002. Consider hosting a regional grant workshop at your station for other departments in your area. Contact USFA to check the availability of a grant administration team member to come to your station. Again your chances of getting one of these professionals to provide a seminar is greater the more neighboring departments you invite to participate. Now is the time to make those arrangements.

Lastly the old adage "Don't put off till tomorrow what you can do today" has never been more true when it comes to the fire grant applications. Activating your well developed pre-plan when the grant window opens will make the whole process easier and will give you a leg up on those other 32,000 fire departments out there.