The application period for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants is open until 5:00 p.m. eastern daylight time on June 30, 2006. The NVFC urges fire departments and state associations to apply now to ensure meeting the deadline.
The SAFER program provides grants to fire departments for hiring personnel and to fire departments and regional and state fire associations to implement volunteer recruitment and retention programs. SAFER grant money for the hiring of firefighters is disbursed over a five year period, with the amount gradually decreasing each year until the department bears the entire cost of the salaries in year five. There is no local matching funds requirement for volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention grants.
“The NVFC encourages departments and state associations to take advantage of this no-match grant opportunity for volunteer firefighter retention and recruitment,” said Heather Schafer, Executive Director.
Eligible applicants include state and local organizations, as well as career, combination and volunteer fire departments. Applications are ranked by an impartial panel of firefighters to ensure the grant money is distributed where it is needed most.
Applications are accessible at www.firegrantsupport.com.