DHS Reminds Fire Departments: Assistance to Firefighter Grant Application Period Ends Friday

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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) wants to remind all eligible applicants for the FY 2005 fire grants that today marks the start of the last full week (7 days) of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) application period.

The deadline for receipt of the AFG grant applications is 5 p.m., eastern daylight time, Friday, April 8, 2005. The AFG is administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP) in coordination with the U.S. Fire Administration.

The AFG program assists rural, urban, and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. In addition, in 2005, the AFG allows non-fire-based EMS organizations to apply for grants.

The AFG "fire grant" applications are automated and accessible via the AFG Website: http://www.firegrantsupport.com. This Website also contains useful background information on AFG program priorities and program guidance, as well as a tutorial on applying for each program, and other useful materials.

Fire departments or non-affiliated EMS organizations that have questions regarding this grant opportunity should contact the Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 or at [email protected]. The Help Desk is open weekdays and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., eastern time. This weekend, the Help Desk will also be open on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., eastern time.

DHS also reminds fire departments that the application period for the newly established AFG Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants is scheduled to begin on May 31, 2005, and continue through June 28, 2005. Guidance materials on SAFER will be issued in the future.