The Fund Finder News
 What's Happening? Federal Grant Programs on the Horizon
Grants News and Commentary By Kurt Bradley • Issue 48, February 2007
With Federal budgets being determined, the grants world seems to be at a standstill right now. But here's a glimpse at what's coming soon – and what you should be working on now to be ready.
What's Going On?
As we close in on the first quarter of 2007, the world of Federal grant funding is rather inactive at the moment. This is due in large part to the as-yet-undetermined budget figures for this year's various Federal programs. Many programs are in a holding pattern right now, until these matters are sorted out in Washington D.C., which they should soon be.
Downtime is Prep Time
However, this is not a time to sit idly by and while away the hours without properly preparing for upcoming grant application periods.
Whatever your level of expertise in grant-writing, below are some tips for what grants you should be preparing for now. These programs are all expected to open within the next 3 months.
Links are provided to past information on our website regarding these various programs. Use the information for your research purposes and to help you begin planning your application and narrative.
You are also welcome to contact CHIEF Grants for advice and assistance too: Margert Stark for Law Enforcement / Corrections, or Kurt Bradley if you are Fire/ Rescue/EMS or Emergency Management Agencies.
The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program (BVP) will fund up to 50% of the cost of approved ballistic armor for your law enforcement officers. This relatively simple application process is done electronically.
If approved, BVP will authorize you to first purchase the vests, and then be reimbursed by a predetermined amount set according to your population. It is usually open already at this time of the year. Look for it to open for 2007 applications within the next 60 days.
ONDCP offers a piece of high-tech equipment to those departments successfully applying. The focus of the program and the awarded equipment is to help law enforcement fight illicit narcotics and drug trafficking in your city.
ONDCP offers a range of high-tech equipment, and applying agencies request one piece. If you are awarded, you will receive that piece of equipment, free of charge. Some of the items usually offered for this grant include night-vision equipment, video detective software, fiber optic inspection tools, body bugging equipment, etc.
Watch for this program to open for applications sometime in March or April.
JAG funds a wide variety of areas in basic law enforcement equipment. The equipment and programs they will fund have a lot of discretionary usage set according to your state's priorities, but can include vehicles, K-9, in-car video equipment or MDTs.
Check with your State Administering Agency for further information about their funding priorities, opening dates for applications and other program information.
The USDA Rural Facilities Grant Program is open to any public safety agency serving a population base of 20,000 or fewer.
This program will fund all sorts of public safety equipment, vehicles or buildings. The funding usually takes the form of a partial grant (usually 15%-50%) and a long-term, low-interest loan (usually 4-6%) for the remaining balance. It is a very viable option for obtaining K-9s, communications equipment, vehicles and fire trucks.
The USDA Rural Facilities Grant Program is open for applications at all times. Contact a local/regional office of USDA to apply.
The Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP) provides a free piece of high-tech equipment, plus training, to a first responder agency that has been unable to access State Homeland Security Grant Funding from Urban Area Security Initiative cities.
To apply, fill out a 23-question application. If deemed eligible, you pick a piece of equipment from a list. This equipment list can include night-vision equipment, haz-mat identification tools, video detective software, radiation detection equipment, thermal imaging cameras, AMKUS Rescue Tools, etc.
If awarded, you will receive the equipment and training at no charge to your agency.
We at CHIEF Grants have had much success with this program, especially for smaller agencies. If you have a need for equipment, you should not ignore CEDAP. CEDAP is expected to open for applications in April.
AFGP is the "big banana" for fire departments and standalone EMS/Rescue squads.
There are two application areas:
- Operations and Safety
- Vehicle Acquisition
I know that now you're ready to run off and start applying for a truck, but hold your horses a second. Competition for vehicles is fierce. The sheer number of applications for this pool of apparatus money gives you a 15-1 shot, at best. Only 660 vehicles were awarded this year, and there is no significant funding increases in this program for FY07. By law, only 25% of the money can go for vehicles.
If your department absolutely needs a new apparatus, and nothing else, then go for it. AFGP, however, is often best for departments needing to update other equipment, and that's where we usually recommend our clients look first, before applying for that new rig.
The true "mother lode" for AFGP funding is for replacing 10-year-old or older equipment such as structural turnout gear, wildland turnout gear, SCBA, hoses, nozzles, training equipment, etc. Under AFGP, 75% of the total funding must go to these areas. This means a bigger pool for you, and a much better chance of getting a piece of the pie.
AFGP is expected to open for applications in March or April.
Better, more interoperable communications has been an ongoing struggle for departments nationwide. Well, 2007 brings some good news for all of us.
There has been word of a recent appropriation of $1.7 billion dollars for "Interoperable Communications" projects for first responder agencies. After approval by Congress, this program was recently signed into law by President Bush. There is a mandate that this money be spent on interoperable communications projects before September 1, 2007.
Be ready to strike when the details of this program are announced. If you have been dealing with these types of communication problems, now is the time to start getting your completed regional projects in order.
More in-depth information on this program is sketchy at this time. However, rest assured that we are constantly monitoring the status of this program. We will be placing any and all information we can discover about this program on our website. Stay tuned!
Conclusion
As you can see, the outlook for 2007 federal grants is favorable – especially for those agencies that begin preparing now. By researching and planning now, you will have the best advantage when the programs open.
The programs above are just some of the Federal programs we watch constantly for you. There are numerous other funding opportunities available at various times throughout the year. Agencies that stay in touch and up-to-date in their education about these programs have far more frequent success in winning awards.
Contact CHIEF Grants today for advice and assistance with your 2007 grants. We also highly recommend that you get into one of our Regional or Agency Hosted Grant Writing Training Seminars. Our new schedule of 2007-2008 seminars will be posted soon.
Remember... Get the Training, Get the Grant, Get the Gear!
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