Up to $355 million in fire job grants available from FEMA
Fire jobs grants application period open Mon., Feb. 8, through Fri., Mar. 12, at 5 p.m. ET
Funding Opportunity Number: DHS-20-GPD-083-00-99
Assistance Listings (formerly Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance Number): 97.083
Grant Deadline: Mar. 12, 2021
300 firefighter job grant awards projected
The Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 Staffing for Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant
Program (SAFER) is one of 3 grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) focus on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards.
The SAFER Program accomplishes this by providing funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to assist in increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate fire protection from fire and fire-related hazards, and to fulfill traditional missions of fire departments.
The SAFER Program represents one part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by DHS. Among the 5 basic homeland security missions noted in the DHS Strategic Plan, the SAFER Program supports the goal to Strengthen National Preparedness and Resilience.
In awarding grants, the FEMA Administrator is required to consider:
- The findings and recommendations of the Technical Evaluation Panel;
- The degree to which an award will reduce deaths, injuries, and property damage by reducing the risks associated with fire-related and other hazards;
- The extent of an applicant’s need for a SAFER Program grant and the need to protect the United States as a whole; and,
- The number of calls requesting or requiring a firefighting or emergency medical response received by an applicant.
What this grant does for your agency
The objectives of the SAFER Program are to assist local fire departments with staffing and deployment capabilities to respond to emergencies and assure that communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.
Local fire departments accomplish this by improving staffing and deployment capabilities, so they may more effectively and safely respond to emergencies. With enhanced staffing levels, recipients should experience a reduction in response times and an increase in the number of trained personnel assembled at the incident scene.
Agencies awarded the FY 2020 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program receive funds to recruit and hire firefighters.
Estimated Total Program Funding: $$355 million
Projected Number of Awards: 300
Only a limited number of grants will be awarded.
Grant Eligibility
For full eligibility details, see the Grant Guidelines.
About FEMA
FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during and after disasters. More
Grant Deadline
Grant applications are due no later than 5 p.m. EST, Mar. 12, 2021.
Apply
Apply for the FY 2020 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program