IAFC NEWS ALERT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: IAFC Government Relations Department
703/273-0911
DHS releases schedule for FIRE Act grant workshop
Application period tentatively scheduled for March 7 to April 8
Fairfax, Va., January 25, 2005…An initial schedule of applicant workshops for the Fiscal Year 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program – commonly known as the “FIRE Act” – is now available on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Web site at www.firegrantsupport.com. >From the end of January through March, DHS will hold these workshops across the country to explain the FIRE Act program and application process to fire service personnel. General assistance in grant writing will also be included.
In the near future, DHS also plans to make available a copy of the PowerPoint presentation used at the workshops, program guidance, frequently asked questions and a link to the online tutorial for the FY2005 application.
DHS has tentatively scheduled the FY2005 FIRE Act grant application period for March 7 to April 8.
Congress appropriated $650 million for the program this fiscal year. Congress also made a number of changes, including:
- a reduced local match
- an increased maximum award amount
- additional funding for fire fighter research and development
- the codification of fire service participation in grant criteria development and the peer review process
- the inclusion of “non-affiliated” emergency medical service organizations.
For more detailed information on these changes, please see the IAFC’s latest Legislative Issues Discussion at http://www.iafc.org/government/action.asp.
For the second fiscal year, the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) will administer the program, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA). ODP officials have made assurances that they will keep the FIRE Act separate from other funding programs that are meant solely for terrorism prevention and response.
For questions about the FIRE Act, please contact DHS via e-mail at firegrants@dhs.gov or by phone (toll free) at 866/274-0960.
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