The Department of Homeland Security's Grant Programs Directorate is accepting applications for FY2008 Assistance to Firefighters Grants. The deadline for receipt of the applications is April 4, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The AFG, which will be distributed in phases throughout FY2008, will award approximately $500 million.

AFG applicants can downloaded from www.firegrantsupport.com www.usfa.fema.gov, and www.grants.gov. The AFG web site contains the FY2008 funding priorities and program guidance, a Web-based tutorial on the application process, a listing of frequently asked questions, and other materials.

Fire departments with questions regarding this grant opportunity should call 866-274-0960 or e-mail firegrants@dhs.gov.

Applicants may submit two separate applications for consideration under each of the following two program areas: operations and safety and vehicle acquisition. For the operations and safety program area, eligible activities for fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations are limited to training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to facilities. For the vehicle acquisition program, eligible apparatus available to fire departments under this program area include, but are not limited to, pumpers, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.

The FY2008 AFG also will allow eligible applicants to submit an additional application for a regional project through which multiple organizations, serving more than one local jurisdiction, may benefit directly from the activities implemented with the grant funds.

The National Volunteer Fire Council has an online AFG Grant Narrative Resource Center fire and EMS departments can use as a guide when applying for AFG. The Resource Center includes successful grant narratives from past years as well as a grant-writing guide created by DHS. Applicants should use the posted narratives as a reference only and not plagiarize from them. DHS uses software to detect language recurring in multiple grant applications. Submitting an application that includes false information is a crime punishable by law.

Departments that have received Assistance to Firefighter Grants in the past and would like to submit the narratives from successful applications to be included in the Resource Center can send them by e-mail to dfinger@nvfc.org.