AFG fire grant news from FEMA
Each month, FEMA supplies information regarding the management of current Assistance to Firefighters Grants, as well as helpful details on upcoming grant opportunities.
In this month’s update
- FY 2023 AFG Programs Status Update
- FY 2024 AFG Programs Status Update
- Did You Know? – There are other FEMA Preparedness Grants
- DHS Civil Rights Evaluation Tool Technical Assistance
- October Fire Prevention Message – Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6-12, 2024
- Grants Management Training – Grants Management Technical Assistance
- Closeout Module Available in FEMA GO
- AFGP Success Stories
If you would like to receive these monthly newsletters via email, subscribe here: Signup for FEMA Email Updates (govdelivery.com).
FY 2023 AFG Programs Status Update
Fiscal Year 2023 AFGP Awards
The final round of awards for the FY 2023 AFG, SAFER and FP&S were announced on Sept. 23, 2024. All 2023 AFGP funds have been exhausted. Here is a summary of applications/funds awarded by program:
- AFG – 1,635 awards totaling $324 million.
- SAFER – 191 awards totaling $360 million.
- FP&S – 97 awards totaling $36 million.
This will be the final update for FY 2023.
Turndown notifications for all AFG programs will be issued shortly within FEMA GO.
AFG Turndown Webinars
Webinars for AFG will be held Oct. 9-10, 2024, to assist unsuccessful applicants with understanding why they were not awarded. Please view the FY 23 AFG Turndown Webinar Schedule below and register to attend the webinar that fits within your schedule.
| FY 23 AFG Turndown Webinar Schedule | ||||
| Date | Time | Webinar Offering | Presentation Length (Min.) | Attendee Registration Link |
| Oct. 9, 2024 | 10 a.m. ET | FY 23 AFG Turndown Webinar 1 | 60 | Attendee Registration Link |
| 4 p.m. ET | FY 23 AFG Turndown Webinar 2 | 60 | Attendee Registration Link | |
| Oct. 10, 2024 | 11 a.m. ET | FY 23 AFG Turndown Webinar 3 | 60 | Attendee Registration Link |
| 5 p.m. ET | FY 23 AFG Turndown Webinar 4 | 60 | Attendee Registration Link | |
SAFER Turndown Webinars
Webinars for SAFER will be held Oct. 22, 24, 29, and 30, 2024, to assist unsuccessful applicants with understanding why they were not awarded. Please view the FY 23 SAFER Turndown Webinar Schedule below and register to attend the webinar that fits within your schedule.
| FY 23 SAFER Turndown Webinar Schedule | ||||
| Time | Time | Webinar Offering | Presentation Length (Min.) | Attendee Registration Link |
| Oct. 22, 2024 | 12 p.m. ET | FY 23 SAFER Turndown Webinar – Hiring 1 | 60 | Attendee Registration Link |
| Oct. 24, 2024 | 12 p.m. ET | FY 23 SAFER Turndown Webinar – Recruitment & Retention 1 | 60 | Attendee Registration Link |
| Oct. 29, 2024 | 3 p.m. ET | FY 23 SAFER Turndown Webinar – Recruitment & Retention 2 | 60 | Attendee Registration Link |
| Oct. 30, 2024 | 3 p.m. ET | FY 23 SAFER Turndown Webinar – Hiring 2 | 60 | Attendee Registration Link |
All current webinar offerings can be found at Assistance to Firefighters Grant Programs Workshops | FEMA.gov.
FY 2024 AFG Programs Status Update
FY 2024 AFG Application Period
The FY 2024 AFG application period is tentatively scheduled to begin this fall. Below is a list of actions you can take NOW to start preparing. The links are to resources for the FY 23 program that will be relevant for use in FY 24.
- Verify your organization’s SAM.gov account is Active.
- Ensure grant writing staff have accounts with SAM.gov and appropriate permissions in FEMA GO.
- Conduct a Risk Assessment to determine your greatest needs. Compare your needs to the priorities of the program once the FY24 funding notice is released to identify what you should request.
- Poll vendors to start determining the costs of items you plan to request.
- If requesting a vehicle, establish your committee and develop specifications.
- Use the Application Checklist to gather information needed to complete the application.
- Use the Self-Evaluation Sheets to start drafting the four scored sections of the application narrative. These documents provide the exact criteria that panelists will be looking for in your narrative at panel review. There is one for Operations and Safety and another for Vehicle
- Use the Narrative Development Toolkit to help identify ways that you can address the criteria outlined in the Self-Evaluation Sheets.
- Write your narrative now. It is easily pasted into the application once the application period opens. This will allow ample time for others to review what you’ve written and provide feedback.
- Contact your Regional Fire Program Representative with any questions.
Did you Know?
FEMA has other preparedness grants that fire departments may be eligible for.
Preparedness grants help develop and sustain capabilities at the state and local, tribal and territorial levels and in our nation’s highest-risk transit systems, ports and along our borders to prevent, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate terrorism and other high-consequence disasters and emergencies. Please visit FEMA’s Preparedness Grants website HERE to learn more about what is eligible and how to apply.
Emergency Management Performance Grant
The Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) provides state, local, tribal and territorial emergency management agencies with the resources required for implementation of the National Preparedness System and works toward the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation. The EMPG’s allowable costs support efforts to build and sustain core capabilities across the prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery mission areas.
Emergency Operations Center Grant Program
The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Grant Program is intended to improve emergency management and preparedness capabilities by supporting flexible, sustainable, secure, strategically located, and fully interoperable EOCs with a focus on addressing identified deficiencies and needs. Fully capable emergency operations facilities at the state and local levels are an essential element of a comprehensive national emergency management system and are necessary to ensure continuity of operations and continuity of government in major disasters or emergencies caused by any hazard.
State Homeland Security Program
This program provides funding to support the implementation of risk-driven, capabilities-based State Homeland Security Strategies to address capability targets.
Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program
The Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program plays an important role in the implementation of the National Preparedness System by supporting the building, sustaining and delivery of core capabilities essential to achieving the National Preparedness Goal of a secure and resilient nation.
Port Security Grant Program
This grant provides funding to state, local and private-sector partners to help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve port-wide maritime security risk management, and maintain or reestablish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency capabilities.
Technical Assistance – DHS Civil Rights Evaluation Tool
The Civil Rights Evaluation Tool is a technical assistance tool created to assist recipients in understanding and meeting their federal civil rights obligations as a condition of receiving federal financial assistance. Recipients of Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or one of it awarding component agencies must complete this tool within 30 days of receipt of the Notice of Award for the first award under which this term applies. Recipients of multiple awards of DHS financial assistance should only submit one completed tool for their organization, not per award. For additional information, please visit https://www.dhs.gov/publication/dhs-civil-rights-evaluation-tool.
October Fire Prevention Message
Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6-12, 2024
Fire Prevention Week Key Message: Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!
- Install – Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each separate sleeping area (like a hallway), and on each level (including the basement) of the home.
- Test – Test smoke alarms at least once a month by pushing the test button.
- Replace – Replace all smoke alarms when they are ten years old or stop responding when tested.
For more information and resources to support your Fire Prevention Week activities, please visit the NFPA Fire Prevention Week website HERE.
For more information, please visit the U.S. Fire Administration’s website for Fire Prevention and Community Risk Reduction HERE.
Grants Management Training
Grants Management Technical Assistance
K0705 Fundamentals of Grants Management is a virtual course FEMA offers by to grant recipients. Although not a requirement for accepting an AFG award, the course is designed to assist organizations strengthen their grant management practices. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to:
- Improve collaboration across disciplines to support integrating grant management functions;
- Review, navigate and apply the applicable Uniform Administrative Requirements and Cost Principles in 2 C.F.R. Part 200, and FEMA Information Bulletins;
- Apply sound practices to increase efficiency and meet grant management priorities;
- Develop or revise policies, procedures and practices in critical areas of grants management and;
- Prepare for federal monitoring and sub-recipient monitoring.
Upcoming Course Offerings:
| Orientation Dates | Course Dates | Course Start Time | Course Host |
| Oct. 22, 23, or 24, 2024 | Oct. 28 – Nov. 14, 2024 | 6 p.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
| Jan. 21, 22, or 23, 2025 | Jan. 28 – Feb. 13, 2025 | 2 p.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
| March 18, 19, or 20, 2025 | March 24 – April 10, 2025 | 10 a.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
| April 22, 23, or 24, 2025 | April 28 – May 15, 2025 | 2 p.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
| July 8, 9 or 10, 2025 | July 14 – July 31, 2025 | 10 a.m. ET | Open Enrollment |
To Apply: National Emergency Training Center Online Admissions Application (fema.gov)
Questions: [email protected]
Closeout Report Available in FEMA GO
The closeout module has been released in FEMA GO for all recipients. If an award still has an open period of performance (POP), the recipient will have to wait until the POP ends to initiate the closeout process and will have 90 days (FY 2019 and before grants) or 120 days (FY 2020 and after grants) to complete the process. Do not start your closeout if there is a chance that more funds or an amendment could be requested as these functions will no longer be available. A tutorial on the closeout process is available by clicking HERE.
For closeout help, contact your Regional Fire Program Representative or the AFG Helpdesk toll-free at 866-274-0960 or email [email protected]
AFGP SUCCESS STORIES
New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Fire Prevention and Control – Albany, N.Y.
Awarded items: Multiple AFG State Fire Training Academy awards.
Submitted by: Safety Branch Chief Bryan J. Monacelli
Firefighters perform a critical role protecting the citizens of New York State. The funds from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program provide much needed support to ensure that the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Fire Prevention and Control has the resources it needs to fulfill this mission.
The Office of Fire Prevention and Control supports the fire service in New York State primarily through our training programs. In 2023, we trained 41,630 emergency responders, including 1,536 new responders who completed the Firefighter I coursework. We do so with a network of 175 full-time Fire Protection Specialists and 730 part-time State Fire Instructors. More than 450 of these trainers require costly personal protective equipment to fulfill their role, and the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program is vital to paying for this important gear.
Over three fiscal years, funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program has provided New York State with $1.44 million that has been used to replace outdated, obsolete and non-compliant personal protective equipment.
Industry standards recommend replacing self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) every 10 to 15 years. Funds from the Fiscal Year 2019 award allowed us to purchase 78 SCBA, and other ancillary equipment. Our award in 2021 covered an additional 83 SCBA. In total, we were able to purchase 108 SCBA replacement frames and 144 SCBA cylinders that were obsolete or non-compliant, and 54 SCBA frames and 24 SCBA cylinders that were beyond their usable life.
We recently received notification that we have been awarded Fiscal Year 2023 grant funding. This grant will be used to replace personal protective equipment that has an average age of 12 years and must be replaced. This includes 155 structural firefighting coats, 159 pairs of structural firefighting pants, 150 helmets, and 155 pairs of firefighting boots.
This equipment we purchase with the grant funding provides protection for our members as they work to prepare the state’s fire service. Without the grants, we would not be able to cover these equipment costs and deliver the current volume of training to the state’s first responders. This funding ensures that we can maintain the high quality and level of training that we provide to the New York State fire service.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grants program fills a critical funding gap for our state fire training organization and helps the local fire service provide crucial and life-saving assistance to their communities every day.