November 1, 2012 – The application period for Fiscal Year 2012 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grants will open later this fall. Specific dates for the application period will be announced soon.

The IAFF encourages affiliates to download these updated grant application tools to start planning grant requests before the start of the application period.

• FY 2012 FP&S Grants Get Ready Guide. This short guide identifies the most important elements of all the grant application questions.
• FY 2012 FP&S Grant Self-Evaluation Sheet. This tool is based on the application scoring dimensions used by the peer reviewers. It can help assess your organization’s readiness to apply for a grant and help plan your application.

In addition, these short Fire Prevention and Safety Program videos provide information that can help potential applicants.

• The FP&S Grants video gives an overview of the FP&S Grant Program, describing the purpose of the grants, eligible activities, and evaluation criteria.
• The Community Risk Assessment videodescribes the different types of risk assessments that applicants can use and explains how the risk assessment’s information can support grant requests. Community risk assessments are critical to creating an effective fire prevention and safety project, and they are required to obtain a FP&S grant.

The IAFF Grants Department is available to assist IAFF locals and city managers through the application process. Call (202) 824-8630 or e-mail grants@iaff.org.

Fire Prevention and Safety Program grants are awarded to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations throughout the country and are designed to improve response capabilities and more effectively protect the health and safety of the public with respect to fire and other hazards, help local fire departments and emergency medical services organizations purchase or receive training, conduct first responder health and safety programs and buy equipment and response vehicles.

For additional assistance, visit the Assistance to Firefighters web site, call the grant program Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 or email firegrants@dhs.gov.

REPOST 11/6/12 1545 Hours PST

Courtesy: IAFF