Less Than a Month to Apply for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services Grants

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began accepting applications for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services (SAFER) grants last week. Under the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2008, Congress appropriated $190 million for SAFER Grants. That's more than a 60 percent increase in the available funds for the competitive grants over the 2007 fiscal year.

The DHS has several tools available at the Web site for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program to assist applicants in preparing a competitive application for SAFER grants. Of special note is the applicant tutorial. A user may view the entire tutorial, or access the application section he or she specifically needs help with. The site contains a section that answers frequently asked questions and another that provides Program Guidance - an essential document for all applicants.

The deadline for receipt of the SAFER Grant applications is 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 27, 2008.

The applications are automated and accessible from the above Web site.

The SAFER Grants are administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency.