The CHIEF Star Newsletter

The CHIEF Star Newsletter: March 2007
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In This Edition - March 2007

Jump to Content in This CHIEF Star Newsletter:
End-of-Winter Jacket Savings
Federal Program Can Help You Buy Body Armor
Fireline Savings with CHIEF Wildland Combo Deals
FY2007 AFGP Opens for Applications This Month
Upcoming Tradeshows
Grant News, Open Grants & Grant Seminars

End-of-Winter Jacket Savings

Rising Temperatures, Falling Prices
With warmer weather on the way, we've slashed prices on our winter jackets and coats. Save 25-50% on coats and jackets from Liberty, Spiewak and more!

Save 25-50%! CHIEF End-of-Winter Jacket Savings

Federal Program Can Help You Buy Body Armor

Get the Grant, Then Get Your Body Armor
The Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program (BVP) is expected to open soon for applications. BVP can help your agency save on ballistic armor purchases!

What is BVP?
BVP is a Federal grant program that will fund up to 50% of the cost of approved ballistic armor for your law enforcement officers. Need to replace outdated vests? Update vests? Outfit a growing agency? BVP is a great way for you to improve officer safety, at a lower budget cost.

Funding amount varies by your jurisdiction's population. If approved, BVP will authorize you to first purchase the vests, and then be reimbursed by a predetermined amount set according to your population. Learn more about the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program (BVP)

What ballistic armor do you want?
American Body Armor, First Choice Body Armor, MSA, PACA, Point Blank, Protech, Safariland, Second Chance, and more available in CHIEF's Body Armor selection.

Fireline Savings with CHIEF Wildland Combo Deals

Wildland Head-to-Toe Combo Deals at CHIEF
According to a recent article, wildland firefighting is getting more and more dangerous every year. Now is the time to get ready for this year's wildfire season.

Through Apr. 30, call (888) 588-8569 for our CHIEF Wildland Head-to-Toe Combo Deals. These OSHA or PGI NFPA combo packages include everything from turnouts to boots, Hotshield to gloves. Get ready today – call (888) 588-8569 for these combo packages and our extensive wildland firefighting equipment selection.

Need more wildland gear or tools? Order wildland gear online:

FY2007 AFGP Opens for Applications This Month

Contact CHIEF for Equipment Quotes for Your Application
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) is considered the top grant out there for fire departments and standalone EMS/Rescue squads.

Funding Available for Vehicles or Equipment
AFGP is also highly competitive. There are 2 pools of funding, one for vehicles and one for equipment. 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.

Your AFGP Info Source
For more on AFGP, see our AFGP grant profile, or contact Kurt Bradley, CHIEF Grants Fire & EMS Grant Consultant. Your application will also need to include equipment quotes. Request a free quote from CHIEF today!

This year's AFG program is expected to open for applications within the next 60 days.

Upcoming Tradeshows

Keep up with the latest in the industry. Here are some tradeshows coming up in March:

Grant News By Kurt Bradley, CHIEF Grants Consultant

February Recap - Public Safety Grants

The biggest news in February grants, is what we have to look forward to over the coming months. As Congress and the President settle this year's budget, numerous Federal grant programs will be opening within the next 60 days (at the time of this update).

For you, the key thing right now is to be preparing your strategy, research and application for all programs you want to apply for this year. See our latest Fund Finder, What's Happening? Federal Grant Programs on the Horizon, for a breakdown of the Federal grant programs you'll want to take a shot at.

Open or Opening Soon See All »

CHIEF Grants Seminars

Next Seminars – $50 discount when you register 30 days in advance:

New cities added! We'll be adding more cities and dates soon for 2007-2008 seminars. Stay tuned.

National ($499): Sept. 11-12, Milwaukee, WI Register »
Agency-Hosted ($299): Apr. 4-5, Patterson Police Department, Patterson, LA Register »

What is a CHIEF Grants Seminar?
Learn more about how our 2-day grant training seminars will help your department write winning grant applications:
• Learn about National Seminars »
• Learn about Agency-Hosted Seminars »

Grant News See All »

Awards for Fiscal Year 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Announced
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security continues to announce awards for the Fiscal Year 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), awarding grants to fire departments throughout the United States... CHIEF Grants AFGP Award Center

DHS Awards $194 Million to States for Emergency Management
From DHS - February 27, 2007
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released $194 million to help states and local governments prepare and implement emergency management activities through the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) program... More

Denver, Milwaukee Added to 2007 CHIEF Grants Seminar Schedule
From CHIEF Grants - February 26, 2007
CHIEF Grants Seminars, America's best public safety grant-writing training, are coming to two new cities for 2007: Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Sept. 11-12) and Denver, Colorado (Sept. 25-26). $50 Early-Bird Discount and Special CHIEF Grants hotel rates available. Learn more and book your seminar today... CHIEF Grants Seminars

New Grant Coming Soon - Commerce Department and Department of Homeland Security Sign Memorandum of Understanding to implement the $1 billion Public Safety Interoperable Communications Grant Program
From National Telecommunications & Information Administration - February 23, 2007
The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Friday, February 16, 2007, to implement the $1 billion Public Safety Interoperable Communications (PSIC) Grant Program to help state, local and federal first responders better communicate during a natural or man-made disaster... More

Department of Homeland Security Announces Funding Opportunities for Additional Centers of Excellence
From DHS - February 15, 2007
The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science and Technology (S & T) directorate announced $12 million in funding opportunities that will establish four additional university-based Centers of Excellence in the areas of explosives detection, mitigation, and response; border security and immigration; maritime, island, and extreme/remote environment security; and natural disasters, coastal infrastructure, and emergency management... More

Lawmakers Question First Responder Grant Cuts
From Officer.com - February 9, 2007
Members of the House Homeland Security Committee want to know why the Bush administration plans to cut grants to state and local emergency workers, firefighters, disaster training for hospital workers and upgrades to communication systems... More

AFG Program Office Posts Workshop Presentation for 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)
From DHS - February 7, 2007
The AFG Program has posted the presentation which will be the basis for the FY 07 AFG workshops being conducted by AFG regional staff over the next few weeks throughout the country... More

Bush Budget Cuts AFG, SAFER Programs Again
From Firehouse.com - February 6, 2007
President Bush's proposal to ax SAFER and slice FIRE Act grant funding again is drawing sharp criticism from the first responder community and politicians. The proposed spending plan calls for $287 million for FIRE Act, nearly slicing it in half from what he asked for last year. The president also eliminated SAFER funds again... More

Remarks by Secretary Michael Chertoff at a Press Conference Announcing the DHS Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request
From DHS - February 5, 2007
Secretary Michael Chertoff provides an overview of the President's budget and discusses the key areas of funding for the Department of Homeland Security (D.H.S.) in 2008... More

Fact Sheet: U.S. Department of Homeland Security Announces Eight Percent Increase in Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request
From DHS - February 5, 2007
President Bush's fiscal year 2008 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) represents $46.4 billion in funding, which is an increase of 8 percent over the FY 2007 level – excluding funds provided in emergency supplemental funding. The request targets five areas that are essential to preserving freedom and privacy, meeting future challenges, and fulfilling our mission of securing America... More