States are preparing to submit their applications in January for approximately $3 billion available for state and local first response agencies under the Homeland Security Grant Program in 2005. Local fire and emergency services officials should be engaging in the process to ensure they get their fare share of the funding, says Alan Caldwell, director of government relations for the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

On Dec. 2, the Homeland Security Grant Program guidelines and application kit were posted on the Web by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness, Office for Domestic Preparedness. The deadline for applications is Jan. 16.

In an effort to streamline the program, DHS has consolidated six grant programs under the HSG program: the State Homeland Security Program, the Urban Areas Security Initiative, the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program, the Citizen Corps Program, the Emergency Management Performance Grants, and the Metropolitan Medical Response System. All six programs will be guided by the state and urban area homeland security strategies, approved by ODP.

Not included under the HSG program are the 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and SAFER Grant Program, which have yet to announce guidelines. Fire departments will be able to apply directly to the U.S. Fire Administration under the DHS Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate for these grants.

ODP has designated a State Administrative Agency to develop each state’s homeland security strategy and only the SAA can submit applications to ODP for HSG program funds. You can look up your SAA in the 2005 guidelines, as well as how much money your state will be getting in each of the six grant programs next year.

The mechanisms for applying for HSG program grants vary from state to state. “These monies go through the states; it has been that way since 1999, and fire chiefs need to work with their community, and their communities need to work with state agencies to make sure they get their fare share,” said Caldwell.

If you’re not already a part in the state’s homeland security plan, Caldwell suggests you contact the state fire chiefs’ association for information.

“The feds got money and the fire chief needs it. Now, how do you get it? ... It’s a little different between each community and the state and it’s a little different between each state and the federal government. The plan for Connecticut is not the same plan for Nevada." Each state's They’re different plans, but they’ve been approved because they work for that state. So, it’s a little sophisticated, but they just need to understand what the process is and then become engaged in it."

Local fire chiefs have expressed a lot of frustration about the slowness of homeland security funding in reaching the local level in the last three years. There’s plenty of blame to go around, Caldwell said, but ODP has made a real effort in 2005 to improve the process. Try again -- and keep trying.

“Sometimes the problem is at the local level … People are fighting with the new system, and the fire chief might have a pretty clear vision, but maybe the mayor doesn’t. [The mayor] is working with the state government for all public safety – the emergency manager, the police and the fire and EMS [if it’s separate], so those things take time to iron out. And sometimes there’s just plain orneriness on the part of [local government] officials: it’s ‘Well, you’re not going to get this on my watch.’ That has to be overcome, but when any good fire chief sees a stubborn fire, he just pours more water on it. It’s the same kind of effort; if you get rebuffed, you go back and you try again. If there’s money out there, you never quit trying to get it.”

Don’t let disappointment deter you from staying in the game. “You’ve got to keep the dialog going,” said Caldwell. “Find out how things work. You become engaged in the process, you stay alert, you network, you meet with friends – you gather yourselves together and then you make something happen.”

Click here for the Homeland Security Grant Program guidelines. For applications and other federal grant programs, see ODP Funding Opportunities.

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