Station Construction Grant

[dmleblanc]

Tried to check out the old thread about the Station Construction Grants and found that it's been closed. So I went ahead and started this new one because there have been some new developments of late.

Initially received a denial in June, and were told that they'd keep our app on file just in case any more funds became available. Well, that must have happened because I was contacted by e-mail Friday confirming that WE ARE APPROVED for a Station Construction Grant!!!

They contacted us about a week ago and asked us to re-authenticate our bank routing and account numbers. So I figured something was up. Provided the requested authentication and within a couple of days we received our confirmation!

Someone up there must be looking out for us

[dfd701]

Tried to check out the old thread about the Station Construction Grants and found that it's been closed. So I went ahead and started this new one because there have been some new developments of late.

Initially received a denial in June, and were told that they'd keep our app on file just in case any more funds became available. Well, that must have happened because I was contacted by e-mail Friday confirming that WE ARE APPROVED for a Station Construction Grant!!!

They contacted us about a week ago and asked us to re-authenticate our bank routing and account numbers. So I figured something was up. Provided the requested authentication and within a couple of days we received our confirmation!

Someone up there must be looking out for us

Well how about that. Congratulations chief. Good things come to those who wait. Now if they would just call me back on my app.

[farmerfire1156]

Tried to check out the old thread about the Station Construction Grants and found that it's been closed. So I went ahead and started this new one because there have been some new developments of late.

Initially received a denial in June, and were told that they'd keep our app on file just in case any more funds became available. Well, that must have happened because I was contacted by e-mail Friday confirming that WE ARE APPROVED for a Station Construction Grant!!!

They contacted us about a week ago and asked us to re-authenticate our bank routing and account numbers. So I figured something was up. Provided the requested authentication and within a couple of days we received our confirmation!

Someone up there must be looking out for us

I was thinking we had gotten the denial letter at the same time, I hope they send us a will you accept letter. Congrats

[BCCB]

Congratulations Chief! Glad to see it worked out for you too.

[neiowa]

Tried to check out the old thread about the Station Construction Grants and found that it's been closed. So I went ahead and started this new one because there have been some new developments of late.

Initially received a denial in June, and were told that they'd keep our app on file just in case any more funds became available. Well, that must have happened because I was contacted by e-mail Friday confirming that WE ARE APPROVED for a Station Construction Grant!!!

They contacted us about a week ago and asked us to re-authenticate our bank routing and account numbers. So I figured something was up. Provided the requested authentication and within a couple of days we received our confirmation!

Someone up there must be looking out for us

So what to you have planned? size $ etc?

[islandfire03]

Congrats: They must be auditing the end of fiscal year books and found enough to give you the funding. They have to get the books done for this month.
Congratulations again! Good thing come to those that wait.

[dmleblanc]

So what to you have planned? size $ etc?

Planning a 4-bay station (2 back-ins and 1 double-deep drive through) Total project cost is in the mid-$800,000 range. Don't remember the square footage exactly. We have owned the property for about 4 years now (approx. 1 acre).

Downstairs will be a full kitchen, two bathrooms, a meeting/training room, and two offices. There will also be an enclosed shop/maintenance area behind the engine bays. Upstairs will have sleeping quarters, a sort of day room/hanging out area, fitness area, and locker rooms/showers.

We're meeting with the engineer tonight...he already has the design finished, we're going to review it with him and see if it needs any tweaks. I'll see if I can get him to send me a copy of it and try to post it here if I can.

I hope we get to move forward quickly. At any rate I don't think we'll start anything before the first of the year because the sugar cane harvest season is just starting and we're building on the road to the sugar mill....lots of truck traffic, mud, etc., so things get kind of messy and chaotic around here from September through the end of the year.

Once it gets off the ground, I'm planning to start a thread here on the forums with pics and progress reports, so I'll keep you posted!

[neiowa]

How much do you think the Fed requirements are running up the cost compared to building as a "normal"/real world project.


I'm hearing of FD in my area turning down USDA grants as the requirements of custom engineered/architect, historical review, archilogical review, endless gov't BS is doubling the cost of their $350000 station project. With end result is that the grant costs them MORE out of local pocket to build a new station. Same reason I did not submit a station grant.

[chackbayfire]

Congratulations Chief Leblanc! Glad to see some money being spent locally in South Louisiana. You guys are invited to participate in our parade next weekend too. Sunday the 17th at 10:30 on Hwy 304. Hope to see yall there.

Josh Falgoust
Rescue Chief
Chackbay Vol. Fire Department
Chackbay, La

[WJVaughn]

I will be in Sulphur LA next week teaching. Either of you two close to there?

[jhl81791123]

Congratulations to you and your department. Maybe more money will be available. I will be watching.

[dmleblanc]

How much do you think the Fed requirements are running up the cost compared to building as a "normal"/real world project.


I'm hearing of FD in my area turning down USDA grants as the requirements of custom engineered/architect, historical review, archilogical review, endless gov't BS is doubling the cost of their $350000 station project. With end result is that the grant costs them MORE out of local pocket to build a new station. Same reason I did not submit a station grant.

Well, our budget and plans were actually drawn up by the parish engineer, who is familiar with grant funding and doing projects with Fed money. So I believe he anticipated most of those types of costs in the budget. I know that, among other things, it's probably going to require some sort of elevator for ADA compliance (since we're having a second floor). I have already been contacted by someone with FEMA who is our point of contact for environmental compliance, who will be working with us to make sure we satisfy any environmental requirements.

I do think that these requirements will drive up the cost from what we could have done if we had been able to fund it locally, but again, I think our engineer has addressed all that in his estimates.

Of course, some of those departments that ended up having to turn down their grants are probably the reason they found the money to fund ours, so I can't complain too much...:-)

I will be in Sulphur LA next week teaching. Either of you two close to there?

Not really. Chackbay is not far from me (about 30 minutes, maybe) but Sulphur is out in west Louisiana, closer to Texas. Probably 3-4 hours west of us on I-10.

[dmleblanc]

I hope we get to move forward quickly. At any rate I don't think we'll start anything before the first of the year because the sugar cane harvest season is just starting and we're building on the road to the sugar mill....lots of truck traffic, mud, etc., so things get kind of messy and chaotic around here from September through the end of the year.

!

Case in point....Yesterday morning....

[dmleblanc]

Couldn't make the PDF file show here....I'll figure it out...

[dmleblanc]

OK, worked this time, but I had to cut it down so small I hope you can even make sense of it.

[dmleblanc]

Maybe this one...

[BSFD9302]

Congrats Chief, I actually stopped doing our grant because we were just wanting to build onto our existing station which we built about 9 years earlier. After researching a little more I found they were wanting to build entire stations. But that is alright. We are very fortunate and I am glad to see some people are getting needed stations. It looks like it will be very nice.

One word of advice. Who ever is in charge of documentation, keep everything, all emails, notes, scribbles, drawings, meeting mionutes, dail inspection (if needed), etc., the entire works. If there is the slightest change in anything make sure it is documented and signed.