AFG Micro Grants Could be a Good Option for Volunteer Fire Departments
November 10, 2014
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant application period is open until December 5. Last year the AFG program introduced “Micro Grants” (MGs), which give fire departments the option of voluntarily limiting their grant request for equipment and/or training to $25,000.
Although no extra consideration was given to MG applications in FY 2013, more than one in three MG requests from volunteer fire departments were successful, twice the rate of a regular application from a volunteer fire department. This year, additional consideration will be given to MG applications from agencies that have not received an AFG award in the past three years.
The primary goal of AFG is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Grants fund equipment and resources that departments need to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. In order to apply for AFG, you must first be registered and active with the System for Award Management (SAM). You can register for free or update your existing registration at SAM.gov.
Guidance and resources for applying to AFG are available on the AFG web site. You can also contact the AFG Program Help Desk with questions or comments by calling 1-866-274-0960 or emailing firegrants@dhs.gov.
For those departments needing assistance preparing their grant application, remember that NVFC members get a 25% discount off of grant-writing services from FireGrantsHelp.com. Visit the Member Benefits page of the NVFC Members-Only web site for details.
