Funding opportunity: Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Grant Programs Directorate implements and administers the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants. SAFER grants provide financial assistance to help fire departments increase frontline firefighters, rehire firefighters that have been laid off, retain firefighters facing imminent layoffs, or filling of positions that were vacated through attrition. SAFER offers grants to support activities in two categories: 1. Hiring of Firefighters 2. Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters The authority for SAFER is derived from the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended (15 U.S.C. §2229a et seq.). The program guidance document provides potential applicants with the details of the requirements, processing, and evaluation of an application for financial assistance for both of these activity areas. Click here to view the announcement.

SAFER was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, “front line” firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments’ abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720). For details visit http://www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.

Key Dates and Time Application Start Date: February 9, 2015 at 8:00 AM EST Application Submission Deadline: March 6, 2015 at 5:00 PM EST Anticipated Funding Selection Date: N/A Anticipated Award Date: No later than September 30, 2015

Other Key Dates Projected Award Start Date(s): June 1, 2015 Projected Award End Date(s): September 30, 2015

Application Process DHS makes all funding opportunities available through the common electronic “storefront” Grants.gov, accessible on the Internet at http://www.grants.gov. If you experience difficulties accessing information or have any questions, please call the Grants.gov Customer Support Hotline at (800) 518-4726. The FY 2014 SAFER Grant application is accessible through the e-Grants system at https://portal.fema.gov. A link to the application will also be available via the US Fire Administration’s (USFA) Website at http://www.usfa.fema.gov during the application period.