The CHIEF Star Newsletter

December Recap - Public Safety Grants

2007 was a big year for CHIEF Grants and our clients. In December, we crossed the $60 million mark – that's right – we've now helped public safety agencies across America win over $64,000,000 in public safety grant funding and equipment. Our congratulations to every department that has been able to finally get the equipment and money they need to improve their services.

In other big grant news, DHS has awarded over $33 million to departments, in the 2007 CEDAP awards. The popular Polaris Ranger grant closed for applications at the end of December – good luck to all who applied. We're also looking forward to a big year for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFGP) and Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant (BVP) – start working on those applications, folks!

• All Public Safety, Hurricane Disaster Assistance for 2005 Rural Hurricane Disaster Areas - Deadline Feb. 16, 2008
• Law Enforcement, BJA Tribal Courts Assistance Program (TCAP) - Deadline February 7, 2008, 8 p.m. (ET)
• Law Enforcement, Federal Surplus Real Property Conveyance Program Corrections Facility and Law Enforcement Purposes - Deadline ONGOING
• Fire/Rescue, Fireman's Fund: Supporting Firefighters for Safer Communities - Deadline ONGOING
• Fire/Rescue, Rural Fire Assistance (RFA) Grant Program - Deadline VARIES BY STATE

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

• National ($499): Jan. 22-23, San Antonio, TX Register »
• Agency-Hosted ($349): Jan. 12-13, Pittsford, NY 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 »

2007 AFGP Winners Announced - 2007 AFGP Award Center
From CHIEF Grants - December 2007 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced more Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grants, awarding grants to America's fire departments... 2007 AFGP Award Center

Money Made Available for 2008 AFG, SAFER
From Firehouse.com - December 21, 2007
Money for the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants will be available again next year as the Fiscal Year 2008 omnibus appropriations bill heads to President Bush's desk for signing... More

Fact Sheet: FY 2007 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP)
From DHS - December 20, 2007
The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP) is an important component of the Administration's larger, coordinated effort to strengthen the nation's overall level of preparedness. CEDAP provides specialized commercial equipment and related training directly to smaller jurisdictions and eligible metropolitan areas... More

DHS Provides Nearly $34 Million to First Responders in Smaller Communities Nationwide
From DHS - December 20, 2007
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced the award of $33.7 million to fund equipment and training for first responders across the nation as a part of the fiscal year 2007 Commercial Equipment Direct Assistance Program (CEDAP)... More

CEDAP 2007 Winners Announced
From CHIEF Grants - December 20, 2007
Awardees have been announced for CEDAP 2007. Email notifications for both awardees and non-awardees will be forthcoming from the CEDAP Program Management Office. The status of all applications has been updated on the Responders Knowledge Base RKB website so that applicants can check their status online. A PDF file listing all awardees by state/territory and application number is also available on the RKB at www.rkb.us... More

FY2007-2008 NIMS Compliance
From FEMA - December 19, 2007
FEMA has released a NIMS Alert to inform States, territories, tribal nations, and local governments with regards to FY 2007 NIMS compliance and the pending release of FY 2008 NIMS compliance materials... More

Awards Announced for FY 2007 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant
From CHIEF Grants - December 14, 2007
Awards have been announced for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant. A full list of awardees and vest models in approved applications can be found on the Bulletproof Vest Partnership homepage. For more information, also see About BVP and Body Armor at CHIEF. For body armor orders, call your CHIEF account manager at (888) 588-8569.

DHS Releases REAL ID Grant Guidance
From DHS - December 13, 2007
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released today grant guidance and application kits for two grant programs totaling more than $35 million to assist states in preparing for REAL ID implementation... More

New Round of AFGP Rejection Letters Sent
From CHIEF Grants - December 13, 2007
A fourth round of rejection letters, or "dear john" letters for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) has been released to approximately 1,000 fire departments. CHIEF Grants consultant Kurt Bradley advises fire departments on what to do... More

Remarks by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on 2007 Achievements and 2008 Priorities
From DHS - December 12, 2007
DHS Secretary Chertoff discusses the challenges in national security, cyber security and critical infrastructure protection that DHS has worked on during 2007, and what DHS will continue to work on during 2008 to improve homeland security... More

Fact Sheet: Select Department of Homeland Security 2007 Achievements
From DHS - December 12, 2007
DHS outlines its accomplishments during 2007, including protecting the nation from dangerous people, protecting the nation from dangerous goods, protecting critical infrastructure, and more... More

Remarks of Assistant Secretary of Cybersecurity and Communications Greg Garcia at the New York Metro Infragard Alliance Security Summit
From DHS - December 11, 2007
Assistant Secretary Garcia addresses national cybersecurity and cyber-terrorist threats to critical and financial infrastructure, and outlines DHS plans to improve digital security for government and private infrastructure... More

Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich Announces $18 million in Grants Awarded to Enhance Emergency Communications
From Illinois.gov - Illinois Government News Network (IGNN) - December 6, 2007
Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today announced 10 grants totaling nearly $18 million that will help fire, police and other first responders in strategic locations throughout Illinois better communicate with other response organizations during emergencies. The grants are part of the $36.4 million Illinois received in July from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to support state interoperable communications projects... More

Emergency Responders Face Deep Aid Cuts
From Officer.com - December 3, 2007
The Bush administration intends to slash counterterrorism funding for police, firefighters and rescue departments across the country by more than half next year, according to budget documents obtained by The Associated Press... More