Vehicle DJs also

[BSFD9302]

I got mine and already asked why i was denied.

[sdff1520]

Just got mine also.

Made it to peer review in 2008, but apparently not in 2009... Sixth time applying for the same vehicle...guess we'll saddle up and try again for 2010

[BlandfordFire]

I got my DJ also.

[simpleguy68]

Just got ours. Fourth year to be rejected by the d@mn computer.

We were trying for a new engine at Station 2 to replace the 1967 Seagrave.

Sorry, but it reinforces my belief that the AFG is a bunch of BS designed to get money into the hands of the city departments that already have multi-million dollar budgets. You see where they're getting the grants, but a small rural department that covers 200 sq. miles and app. 300 calls a year on a budget of app. $100k gets NOTHING year after year.

Thanks FEMA, big FRAKING thanks for NOTHING, yet AGAIN!!!

[migoal11]

just got my vech dj did not make it to peer review

[jam24u]

I just got mine also. I was advised that I would automatically get to peer review. I guess that info was inaccurate.

Kurt, I need a little help with this.

[Station 49]

Just got ours. Fourth year to be rejected by the d@mn computer.

We were trying for a new engine at Station 2 to replace the 1967 Seagrave.

Sorry, but it reinforces my belief that the AFG is a bunch of BS designed to get money into the hands of the city departments that already have multi-million dollar budgets. You see where they're getting the grants, but a small rural department that covers 200 sq. miles and app. 300 calls a year on a budget of app. $100k gets NOTHING year after year.

Thanks FEMA, big FRAKING thanks for NOTHING, yet AGAIN!!!

What's even more infuriating is when the big city departments get huge grants, even with multi-million dollar budgets and paid grant writers who make it rain with FEMA.

[Catch22]

Just got ours. Fourth year to be rejected by the d@mn computer.

We were trying for a new engine at Station 2 to replace the 1967 Seagrave.

Sorry, but it reinforces my belief that the AFG is a bunch of BS designed to get money into the hands of the city departments that already have multi-million dollar budgets. You see where they're getting the grants, but a small rural department that covers 200 sq. miles and app. 300 calls a year on a budget of app. $100k gets NOTHING year after year.

Thanks FEMA, big FRAKING thanks for NOTHING, yet AGAIN!!!

I understand your frustration, but I'm a department of 75 sq. miles, 3,300 population that runs about 250 calls and we've been successful. We've managed just under $550K through the program, including two apparatus.

It's not just the big departments getting the money. I'm sure others would be more than willing to do the same, but if you ever want anyone to have a look at your narrative and offer any recommendations, I'm always more than happy to try to help someone out.

[LVFD301]

Durn. 3 DJ's. All made it past the computer, but failed in peer.

Even the PPE grant that got a reduction.

Want to meet grouchy?

[LVFD301]

I just got mine also. I was advised that I would automatically get to peer review. I guess that info was inaccurate.

Kurt, I need a little help with this.

Read that turn down - this included peer review turn downs.

How does a vehicle make it automatically though?

[lfdmichael]

Who told you it was an automatic for peer review? If it was a reliable source, how long ago were you told that?

[medic190]

3rd time rejected for a tanker (water tender) Will be interested in finding out why... Since the vehicle has mechanical problems, it is not called mutual aid, and we hold it back unless absolutely needed... Oh well, at least the 30 year old attack hose is being replaced thanks to AFG, even if the 33 year old tanker isn't...

[mitchkrat]

be very, very quiet, ranting and raving in public can be detrimental to getting grants.

As I have been told, don't bite the hand that feeds you!

But..... I was good this year (no rantings about some states getting what statistically appears to be more than their share) and I still got dj'd.

Oh well have next year, taking headsets out of my ops grant and just going water supply.

I was 4 for 4 (tanker, radios, scba, PPE, Washer/Extractor, cascade, fill station), now I'm in a slump and 4 for 6.

[CCCFire09]

Just got ours. Fourth year to be rejected by the d@mn computer.

We were trying for a new engine at Station 2 to replace the 1967 Seagrave.

Sorry, but it reinforces my belief that the AFG is a bunch of BS designed to get money into the hands of the city departments that already have multi-million dollar budgets. You see where they're getting the grants, but a small rural department that covers 200 sq. miles and app. 300 calls a year on a budget of app. $100k gets NOTHING year after year.

Thanks FEMA, big FRAKING thanks for NOTHING, yet AGAIN!!!

We are a district covering an entire rural with no towns in district and a tax income of 65K. We run 60-80 calls per year including medicals. We are sitting past the 1199 and 10q after negotiating reductions. Small places can get funding, you just have tweak to the right combo.

We should all be thankful for the opportunity to have the fire service enhanced. I too was once frustrated with big money going to big department/districts/companies. The fact is some of these companies use this equipment a heck of a lot more than a lot of us do. We all need adequate ppe and equipment, but afg has determined these larger departments would receive a better return on the use of the equipment.

[simpleguy68]

I understand your frustration, but I'm a department of 75 sq. miles, 3,300 population that runs about 250 calls and we've been successful. We've managed just under $550K through the program, including two apparatus.

It's not just the big departments getting the money. I'm sure others would be more than willing to do the same, but if you ever want anyone to have a look at your narrative and offer any recommendations, I'm always more than happy to try to help someone out.

Well, this last application went through Brian Vickers, so I'm hoping everything was good. But the narrative only applies if you get past the computer, which we can't seem to do.

And, sorry to pick on you, but your department is the reason I can't seem to figure out FEMA's rhyme or reason on these grants. You cover a third the area I do, with half the population, and about the same number of calls but with four times the budget. Yet you've gotten two apparatus grants while the best we've done was PPE (I believe 10 sets) 6-7 years ago.

Not running down you OR your FD, but it sure makes me question exactly what the h&ll FEMA's computer's criteria is...

[simpleguy68]

We are a district covering an entire rural with no towns in district and a tax income of 65K. We run 60-80 calls per year including medicals. We are sitting past the 1199 and 10q after negotiating reductions. Small places can get funding, you just have tweak to the right combo.

If you throw in medicals, we're at nearly 500 calls per year. We're also completely rural. I've seen other, smaller FDs that cover a lot smaller area and a lot fewer calls get grants, but it seems if you're in a certain size range, it's d@mn difficult to get grants.

That's the flip side of the coin, in that the dirt poor departments seem to be getting the grants along with city FDs, just not those "middle class" FDs... oh wait, maybe I just figured something out ;-)

If you don't mind me asking, what did you get awarded for?

[simpleguy68]

be very, very quiet, ranting and raving in public can be detrimental to getting grants.

As I have been told, don't bite the hand that feeds you!

But..... I was good this year (no rantings about some states getting what statistically appears to be more than their share) and I still got dj'd.

Oh well have next year, taking headsets out of my ops grant and just going water supply.

I was 4 for 4 (tanker, radios, scba, PPE, Washer/Extractor, cascade, fill station), now I'm in a slump and 4 for 6.

What hand that feeds you? They need to feed us occassionally... it's like the dog you let starve, it tends to snap when you walk by the cage and tease it.

I'm to the point that I saying SCREW IT. We'll just keep doing what we've been doing all these years, and we'll get by.

But God help any stuffed shirt politician (local, state, OR federal) that asks us how we're doing or mentions ANYTHING about grants.

What's bad is seeing departments that are NIMS compliant in name only, that don't report to NFIRS, and have NO training program to speak of, get grants.

[utfd704]

Got the e-mail but made it to per review, then I read the part that they think out current fleet is adequate, what about getting the 3 old and non nfpa complient veh off the road and replaceing them with one truck, actually dropping the net fleet number. Looks like they had math help from the administration on the hill.

[SLY4420]

What's "old?"

[chief1120]

*$&%**%%$ You no what I mean. Looks like I didn't even get to have anybody even read it.



Dear Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Applicant:

On behalf of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), thank you for applying for a grant under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Assistance to Firefighters
Grant (AFG) Program. As you are aware, the AFG is an extremely competitive program. In FY 2009, the
Department received over 19,750 applications, requesting over $3.0 billion in Federal funds. This
extremely high number of applications and finite amount of funding available resulted in m! any worthy
applicants not being funded. I regret to inform you that we will not be able to fund your AFG request
for the FY 2009 program.

Your application was not among those that were selected for the second phase of competitive review.
Those applications that best address AFG?s established funding priorities for each eligible activity
are forwarded to peer review. Information explaining these priorities was published in the FY 2009
Program Guidance, which is posted on the AFG Website at www.firegrantsupport.com. If you would like
a more detailed account of how your application was rated, please register your request at
www.firegrantsupport.com/turndowns within 30 days of this notice. FEMA will respond to these
requests in the order in which they are received.

Regardless of the cause of your denial, the work already done to support your FY 2009 AFG application
could be a useful resource for an! y future requests that your organization develops. I encourage! you < BR>to keep a copy of your application for your records. You may be able to use it as a reference for a
future grant program, or even share it with your community as the basis for and outline of a
strategic plan for the enhancement of your department or organization. Please check the AFG
Website often at www.firegrantsupport.com for information on the grant program and for future
funding opportunities.

Your interest in the AFG clearly demonstrates the need and resourcefulness of America's fire
and emergency medical services. The Department of Homeland Security will continue to support and
work closely with the Nation's first responder community and its vital work.

Thank you again for your dedication and commitment.

Sincerely,



Elizabeth M. Harman, Assistant Administrator!
Grant Programs Directorate

cc: Chief, Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program Office
Director, Grants Management Division


The only thing that I do know about my grant application, we must have a very safe district to live in, because a low call volume sure don't help is this program. I guess others have different fires than we do. I always thought fire burnt the same.