Emergency Services and Safety Grants

I haven’t posted on EMS for a while.  These opportunities aren’t directly related to EMS, but they may help your firefighting and first responders services.

 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is accepting proposals for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants through December 18.  SAFER funds are intended to “assist local fire departments to increase their staffing and deployment capabilities in order to respond to emergencies whenever they may occur,” including the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.  Included on the site is an online applicant tutorial, which should help you in preparing your proposal. 

 

Federal Express provides funds to pedestrian and child safety programs.  It looks like they’re especially interested in programs where their employees have an opportunity to volunteer.  If you have a Fed Ex facility near you, I’d suggest you contact them for more information.  I don’t see any proposal deadlines—like many corporate foundations they may accept applications throughout the year.


State Farm Insurance awards grants in several categories including Safe Neighbors.  They’ll consider proposals that address: Auto and Roadway Safety, Home Safety and Fire Prevention, and Natural Disaster Preparedness and Recovery.  Proposals are closed for 2009 but they will begin accepting them again January 2, 2010.


You can use USDA Rural Emergency Responders Initiative funds to purchase equipment, vehicles and supplies and to construct fire/EMS facilities and training centers.  Contact your local USDA office for more information.  There are no deadlines for this program.


The US Forest Service has two programs you might look into.  The Volunteer Fire Assistance program awards funds to “organize, train and equip fire departments in rural areas and rural communities to suppress fires.”  Their Federal Excess Personal Property program loans firefighting equipment through the state forester’s office to rural communities.  Contact the State Forester for more information. 

 

For those interested in social media (and if you aren’t, I recommend you look into it), here’s a good article, How EMS Agencies Could Be Using Twitter Effectively.  If you aren’t familiar with Twitter, look here.  The author has many suggestions on how to use the service, including promoting events like EMS Week, fundraising, and another method of getting urgent information to the community.

November 23, 2009 · KJacobson · No Comments
Tags: ,  · Posted in: Grant Advice, Training and Tools

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