2008 SAFER-back to the waiting bar?

[KenNFD1219]

We received our Dear John letter several months ago. This email below was in my inbox today. Is DHS getting ready just in case more money is available? We are not applying for SAFER in 2009.

--------------------------------------------
Dear SAFER applicant:

I am the Fire Program Specialist that has been assigned to process your 2008 SAFER application. As you know, the 2008 SAFER program is a five-year grant that provides fire departments with funding to pay a portion of the salaries of newly hired firefighters. These newly hired positions must be in addition to authorized and funded active firefighter positions in existence at the time you filed the 2008 application. Grantees must maintain the existing staff as well as maintain the awarded new firefighter positions throughout the five-year period of performance.

There are several initiatives that are pending Congressional action and/or Executive Office approval that deal with the SAFER program for 2009 and the future. These changing provisions, if ultimately passed/approved, are not retroactive to prior SAFER program years.

Given this information, before I process your application any further, I need to know whether your organization is still interested in the SAFER funding for the hiring of firefighters under the 2008 program guidance.

Please provide me with a response before Friday May 29, 2009, even if the response is that you need more time to consider your options. We’re on an extraordinarily tight schedule this year and we need to know your interest as soon as possible.


Thank you,

Karen M. Barber
Fire Program Specialist
DHS/FEMA/Grant Programs Directorate
Asssitance to Firefighters Grant Program Office
============================== ==========================

[SLY4420]

Do you have a EMW-2008-FF-xxxxx reference on your 1199A form?

[KenNFD1219]

No 1199A form, only the rejection letter in December. Our reference number is EMW-2008-FF-0047.

[SLY4420]

They had other rejections that received awards. There was an initial error which caused some people to receive denials by accident. The next issue is that several awards were declined and they're running down the list.

[knunn182]

My Chief just called and read to me the exact same letter wanting to know what it meant...I told him I'm not sure. My guess is that they are running down the list and most definitely we will accept, but like I said, I'm not getting excited yet. Keep us informed of what happens with your letter and I will do likewise

[hoserbt]

Do they allocate a certain amount towards hiring and recruitment/retension? I wonder if more hiring apps are getting offered due to dept turning them down and not as many volunteers turning it down because of the lack of required match.

Bryan

[neiowa]

Means there a FD turning back the things when:

the city refuses to fund the project in the out years or

when they hear of the porkulous changes that remove local matches or

when looks like they will get a "better deal" with a 2009 grant than with a 2008 grant.

[steelman]

i am hoping for the same luck, we would definately approve the SAFER Grant....all we want is 2 firefighters....guess i'll start clicking.....

[LVFD301]

I sure do hope that if they turn down a 2008 grant they don't get considered for a 2009 grant...

[LVFD301]

posted a duplicate

[SLY4420]

I found a 2008 SAFER award number posted today also. It was a denial letter from February which indicated that "your application scored well enough that if we identify any excess funding from unused administrative funds or if some of the applicants who have been offered a grant decline the offer, we may be able to fund your request."

[k3twpfire]

Just found an 1199A for an '08 SAFER Grant that previous got denied. The denial letter did say that if funds became available they might be able to award a grant.

[BC79er_OLDDELETE]

Just found an R&R that posted today sometime so they're not sticking to just hiring. Denial letter said sufficiently low in all categories. Odd that it would be mixed in with the excess funders.

[hoserbt]

good sign this morning, found this on my 1199 form:

Reference Award Number: EMW-2008-FF-01172

It was our safer application from 2008 for a led sign and advertising for recruitmentment.

I am keeping my finers crossed.

[islandfire03]

just found our 1199 for R&R . we also got the letter that said we scored well enough in all areas to be awarded if excess funds were found. :-}

[Flochief]

Hey Hoser,
Can you send a copy of your narrative to me? jamgwill@southernco.com
Thanks,
Glenn

[Andy2802]

Good luck to those with recent 1199's! That's great.

Don't, however, get your hopes too high. Our SAFER award got slashed by more than half.
If someone does figure out how to get them to approve signage for Recruitment, I'd appreciate some help in that area.

[k3twpfire]

What did they cut from your SAFER grant?

[Andy2802]

What did they cut from your SAFER grant?

They cut the recruitment advertising budget more than half.
They elmininated dress uniforms as a reward for completing training.
The didn't touch mileage reimbursement for POV travel for required training.

[LVFD301]

good sign this morning, found this on my 1199 form:

Reference Award Number: EMW-2008-FF-01172

It was our safer application from 2008 for a led sign and advertising for recruitmentment.

I am keeping my finers crossed.

What? People kept saying LED signs were no longer funded????

LOL>>>

Its all in how you ask.