The Fund Finder News
Public Safety Grants Consulting
The Fund Finder News
A Bi-Weekly Grants News and Information Update By Kurt Bradley
Issue 45, January 2006
"Grants and Funding Programs to Watch for in 2006"
Well, as quickly as it comes, it is gone again; 2005 that is. This is no time to sit idly by though, and we will try to get you on the watch for what to expect in 2006 grant opportunities.
Whether you are Fire/Rescue, EMS or Law Enforcement, there are six programs you want to be on the lookout for in 2006:
Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP)
Many of you took advantage of the Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP) during Phase I and II of this past year. This was an excellent opportunity for those of you who were having a hard time getting access to State Homeland Security Grant funding within your individual states. Many agencies will be receiving much-needed high-tech equipment as a result of your participation and application to this program.
The great thing about CEDAP was, there was absolutely "zero" cost to your agency, as no matching funds were required. They even pay for your agency to send someone to receive training for the equipment you receive. After the training, the new piece of equipment is shipped directly to your agency. Fill out the application, answer a few questions, submit and wait for the awards.
247 CHIEF Grants clients were awarded this grant during 2005 Phase I, and even more of you applied during Phase II. Awards should be announced in a few months, so stay tuned for that. We do expect that this program will be around in the future, so keep a close watch on our website for further updates regarding this truly great program. CHIEF Grants CEDAP Profile »
Technology Transfer Program (ONDCP)
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Technology Transfer Program will also offer many law enforcement agencies a great opportunity to pick up additional high-tech equipment, at no cost to your agency.
The equipment offered under this program is supplied to fight the war on illicit narcotics activity. Night-vision equipment, body bugs, GPS tracking devices, intelligence analysis software etc. are all offered under ONDCP.
The program has been in existence for a number of years and we do not expect it to go away. Along with CEDAP above, keep ONDCP in mind for some free equipment for your agency. CHIEF Grants ONDCP Profile »
Assistance to Firefighters Grant program (AFGP)
One of our most popular grant programs for the fire service, 2005 saw the addition of standalone, non-hospital-affiliated EMS agencies and rescue squads to the eligibility list for the $585 million dollar Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) grant program, in addition to any fire departments in the country.
AFGP funds vehicles and equipment with a small matching requirement. The match can be from 5%-15%, depending upon how big your population base is. AFGP will open again in the first week of March.
25% of the total award money goes for vehicles, which means they are extremely tough to get. However, if you have a 25-30 year old truck, with at least 100,000 on miles, it is eligible to be replaced. CHIEF Grants has had great success with these types of applications.
The other 75% of the award money is for firefighter operations and safety. As such, we see loads of PPE (turnouts and SCBA) requests being funded each year. Other types of equipment are also eligible, such as hoses, nozzles, rescue tools, generators etc. There is also an allowance in this grant to establish a fitness and wellness program.
In 2005, CHIEF Grants successfully helped 89 clients win awards in this program, for a total of over $8.1 million dollars in equipment grants. We're looking forward to a big 2006 for this program and our clients. CHIEF Grants AFGP Profile »
Fire Prevention & Safety Program Grant Program (FP & S)
This is another great "no matching dollar requirement" program. The Fire Prevention & Safety Grant Program, or just FP & S, helps fire departments promote and teach fire prevention in their communities. In 2005, FP & S saw $50 million in grants being given to fire departments and other non-profit fire education specialists in 2005.
FP & S funded fire prevention burn trailers, learn-not-to-burn programs and smoke detector programs, to name a few. The priorities of the program again focused on youths under the age of 14 and senior citizens over the age of 64. In order to get funded, you'll need to conduct a proper risk assessment in your community, because programs of this nature require much advance preparation.
FP & S will open again in August and September of 2006. CHIEF Grants FP & S Profile »
Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response (SAFER)
This fire department program was in its launch mode this year in 2005. With only $65 million available in its pilot year, not many grants were given out for the Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response program, or SAFER. This grant allowed departments to apply for money to run "retention and recruitment" programs for volunteers and for hiring of full-time paid firefighters in combination and career departments.
Modeled after the old COPS program for law enforcement, SAFER set out to satisfy the requirements of "2-in / 2-out" rules. Only about 130 grants were given out across the U.S. These grants are for 4-year programs designed to offset the costs of hiring new paid firefighters. A percentage of salary and benefits are paid by the jurisdiction, with the local matching amount growing yearly until the fourth year. At that time you must absorb the firefighter's salaries into your normal budget for a minimum number of following years. One caveat: Failure to comply with the requirements of this program, would result in the feds asking for the grant money to be returned.
SAFER will return in 2006, but with a little added gusto: an additional $50 million dollars are being added to the kitty (yeah, that's right, they took from AFG and put it in SAFER). Look for this program to open again in early fall 2006. CHIEF Grants SAFER Profile »
Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP)
Law enforcement and corrections agencies should seek out the BVP program if your officers are in need of ballistic vests, especially in light of 2005's debacle over Zylon Fiber vests and the BJA/NIJ recommendation that these vests be immediately removed from service.
The Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) will reimburse the awarded agency for up to 50% (depending upon your population) of the cost of a new vest for law enforcement or corrections officers. BVP will open again in February 2006. CHIEF Grants BVP Profile »
Stay Tuned for the Latest Grant Info
CHIEF Grants will continue to bring any and all funding opportunities to your attention through our website. Information on all previously available programs is always of use in preparing for future application rounds. Look under the "Past Grants" section for details concerning any of these programs, or Grant News and Info
contact us and we will be glad to further educate you on them.
CHIEF is also continuing and expanding our programs to educate and turn you into better grant writers, through our public safety grant writing seminars. We encourage all of you to become better grant writers. Offered for novice to intermediate-level grant writers, these public safety grant-writing seminars will teach you the basics of actually "how to write a successful grant" for any of the above listed programs.
CHIEF Grants Seminars are offered through regional-based, large-scale seminars in major metropolitan markets or, in 2006, our new "agency hosted" seminars will bring the training directly to your jurisdiction, whichever is easier for you and your department.
For further information about regional-based, large-scale seminars: CHIEF Grants Seminars
Interested in hosting an agency-hosted seminar? Contact Kurt or Margaret.
Good luck to all of you in your quest for funding in 2006!
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