Funding and Program Assistance
There are different forms of funding programs available to rural fire departments including grants, loans, donations, and reimbursements. Consult grant writing resources for assistance in preparing successful proposals
and in obtaining funding applications and information for obtaining a DUNS number that is required of all organizations/entities applying for a federal grant or cooperation agreement.
Guides to Federal Programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Forest Service
- National Fire Plan
A joint program with the Department of Interior (see below) and the National Association of State Foresters for wildland fire issues.
- Federal Excess Personal Property Program - Federal personal property that was originally purchased for use by a Federal agency and acquired by the USDA Forest Service for loan to one of the 50 States or 6 Territories for use in the State's rural or wildland fire protection program.
- Volunteer Fire Assistance Program This program provides Federal financial, technical, and other assistance to State foresters to train, and equip fire departments in rural areas and rural communities of 10,000 or less population. The funding must be matched on a 50-50% basis by non-federal dollars or in-kind.
- Rural Development, Rural Housing Service
- Community Facilities
Loans and Grants Program CFDA(10.766) offer loans and grants to construct, enlarge, extend, or otherwise improve community facilities providing essential services to rural residents for projects that will enhance public safety such as fire stations, fire trucks, and rescue vehicles.
U.S. Department of Energy
- Fire Protection Program This program includes published fire safety directives (Orders, standards, and guidance documents), a range of oversight activities, an annual fire protection program summary, and a directory of fire safety professionals. DOE also sponsors fire safety conferences, various training initiatives, and a spectrum of technical assistance activities.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
-
Assistance to Firefighters
Grant CFDA(97.044)
provides direct assistance to fire departments of a State or tribal nation.
- Fire
Management Assistance Grant (97.046) provides grants to States, Indian
tribal governments and local governments for mitigation, management and
control of any fire burning on publicly (nonfederal) or privately owned forest
or grassland that threatens such destruction as would constitute a major
disaster.
-
Reimbursement for Firefighting on Federal Property (97.016) provides that
each fire service organization which engages in firefighting operations on
Federal property may be reimbursed for their direct expenses and direct
losses.
- The National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) NDMS is a cooperative asset-sharing program among Federal government agencies, state and local governments, and the private businesses and civilian volunteers to ensure resources are available to provide medical services following a disaster that overwhelms the local health care resources.
- State Domestic
Preparedness Equipment Support Program (97.004) provides funding to the
States to equip fire and emergency medical services, law enforcement agencies,
and hazardous materials units to respond to a Weapons of Mass Destruction
terrorist incident.
U.S. Department of Interior
- National Fire Plan
A joint program with the USDA, Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters for wildland fire issues.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs The Indian Community Fire Protection Program provides funds to perform fire protection services to Indian Tribal Governments that do not receive fire protection support from State or local government. Call (202) 208-3463
U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Department of Transportation
- Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grant (HMEP) The HMEP grant program is intended to provide financial and technical assistance as well as national direction and guidance to enhance State, Territorial, Tribal, and local hazardous materials emergency planning and training
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Local Governments Reimbursement Program This program provides Federal funds to local governments for costs related to temporary emergency measures conducted in response to releases or threatened releases of hazardous substances.
U.S. General Service Administration
- Federal Surplus Property Program - GSA transfers Federal surplus personal property to State agencies for surplus property. They in turn can distribute this surplus property to public agencies (such as local-level governmental agencies) which could include fire departments.
U.S. Housing and Urban Development
Private Funding Programs
