Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is opening the application period for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The application period closes on December 17, 2021, at 5 PM ET.
FEMA has $414 million available to award as part of the FY 2021 AFG program. The program has a local cost-share requirement:
- Applicants serving a jurisdiction of 20,000 or fewer residents must agree to a 5% match.
- Applicants serving a jurisdiction of more than 20,000 but not more than 1 million residents must agree to a 10% match.
- Applications serving a jurisdiction of more than 1 million residents must agree to a 15% match.
The FY 2021 AFG program has three program areas of eligible activities: Operations and Safety; Vehicle Acquisition; and Regional Projects. Fire and EMS chiefs are recommended to review the Notice of Funding Opportunity to learn more about the eligibility requirements for these grants.
FEMA is also hosting workshops starting this week to discuss applying for the AFG program.
The AFG program is designed to help fire and EMS departments improve their baseline capabilities for protecting the public. More information about the FY 2021 AFG program can be found on the FY 2021 AFG website.
Ken LaSala is the IAFC’s Director of Government Relations & Policy.