|
|
Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
|
| |
November
2004
Volume 7 - Number 2 |
|
<>
“Update on FY 2004 USFA competitive fire grants” The reason behind fire grants is to assist state, regional, and local organizations to address fire prevention and safety. Their main goal is to reach out to protect groups such as children, seniors and fire fighters. Groups such as national, regional, state, which are recognized for their participation in fire prevention and safety, under the FY 2004 assistance to fire fighter fire grants, are eligible to apply for the fire grant and can be funded up to $750,000 federal share per program year. Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced the distribution of over $4.5 million from the FY03 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Twenty seven fire departments and organizations received over $2.8 million from the FY03 Fire Prevention and Safety grant program. The Department of Homeland Security released the regional workshop schedule for the FY04 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP). The Department expects to have the Application Kit and Guidance for the Fiscal Year 2004 grant funds which was available back in mid-March 2004. In the FY04 Homeland Security Appropriations Act Congress appropriated $750 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and transferred administration of the program from the United States Fire Administration (USFA) to Office for Domestic Preparedness. The Fire Prevention and Safety aspect of the AFG program reserves the highest priority for projects focusing on the prevention of fire-related injuries to children. Many of these awards represent innovative solutions for the delivery of fire prevention activities throughout the United States. They will continue funding this money and are committed to the safety of all communities and at the same time to keep a safe homeland. On June 18, the U.S House of Representatives passed their FY 2005 House Homeland Security Appropriations Bill (H.R. 4567). The bill provides a total of $31.9 billion in FY 2005 spending for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a $1.6 billion (5.3 percent) overall increase from last year. The issue of most interest to the fire service is the reduction of Assistance to Firefighters Grant program funding, down from nearly $750 million last year to $600 million for FY 2005. Grants are awarded on a competitive basis to the applicants that first address the AFG program's priorities then demonstrate financial need and adequately demonstrate the benefit to be derived from their projects. Program areas for FY 2004 are: Operations and Firefighter Safety Program, Fire Prevention Program, and Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Program
http://www.usfa.fema.gov/inside-usfa/media/2004releases/092404.shtm
http://www.ksffa.com/NVFC/nvfc_update_6282004.htm
|