By: Michelle Mazzola
1. Get on your mark:
• According to FEMA, the Assistance to Firefighters grant program will be opening in the near future. Typically, they accept grant applications for 30 days. This isn’t a lot of time to prepare your application. So I suggest you begin now!
2. Get Set:
• Determine what the AFG program will fund. Last year’s guidance will give you a very strong indication of what FEMA will want to fund this year. Only apply for “high priority” items, as determined in the guidance (medium and low priority items rarely get funded). Email me if you need a list of the high priority funding items.
• Find a match between what AFG funds and what your department needs: What are your biggest operational threats? What equipment do you urgently need to enhance fireground operations and firefighter safety? If you would like brainstorm your grant request, you are welcome to give me a call.
3. GO!
• Prepare your budget, early: Determine how much your grant request will cost. It is recommended that you get 3 price quotes and average the costs.
• Begin writing the narrative, now: The narrative consists of 5 major subject areas (Organization Description, Financial Need, Project Description & Budget, Cost Benefit and Statement of Effect). Email me if you need a Word template of the grant narrative questions.
• Gather data for the online application, immediately: The online questions will take longer to complete than you think. You will need to gather info on call volume, fleet data, etc. Although FEMA will not allow you to “open” a new grant until the 30-day grant application period is open, I suggest you print out a copy of an old grant and begin updating your numbers.
• FEMA provides several application assistance tools. You can download these at http://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/119095.
If you have follow-up questions about your AFG grant application process, please contact Michelle Mazolla by phone or email. She always enjoys hearing questions from Washington’s Fire Chiefs!
Contact information: Michelle Mazzola, Resource Solutions LLC in Leavenworth. I can be reached via phone at 509/669-4442 or via Email at Michelle@ResourceSolutionsNow.com