Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG)

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Description

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, administered by FEMA under the Department of Homeland Security, offers financial assistance to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations, and State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs). The program aims to equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, provide compliant personal protective equipment (PPE), retrofit or modify facilities to protect personnel from health hazards, acquire emergency response vehicles, and implement health, wellness, and resiliency programs. These efforts support operational efficiencies, foster interoperability among responders, and enhance community resilience.

Since its inception in 2001, the AFG Program has been a critical source of funding for first responders to obtain resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

Applicants must submit their applications through the FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) system.

Due Dates

• FY 2024 AFG application period opens: November 12, 2024, 9 a.m. ET
• FY 2024 AFG application period closes: December 20, 2024, 5 p.m. ET

Funding Amount

• Total funding available for FY 2024 is approximately $9 million.
• Awards typically cover costs for equipment, training, facility upgrades, emergency vehicles, and health/wellness programs.
• Funding supports a wide range of activities to improve emergency response capabilities and community safety.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

• Fire departments
• Nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations
• State Fire Training Academies (SFTAs)
• County governments
• City or township governments
• Federally recognized Native American tribal governments
• Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status (excluding institutions of higher education)
• Other eligible organizations as defined by FEMA

Application Process

• Applications must be submitted through the FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) platform: https://go.fema.gov
• Applicants should review the FY 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity and guidance documents available on FEMA’s website.
• Recipients are required to submit semi-annual performance reports to demonstrate progress and compliance.
• Additional resources such as workshops, webinars, and tutorials are available to assist applicants.

Additional Information

• The program supports a broad range of activities including outfitting responders with compliant PPE, retrofitting facilities to mitigate health hazards, acquiring emergency response vehicles, and implementing health, wellness, and resiliency programs.
• The COVID-19 supplemental funding period ended, but FEMA continues to provide related assistance through other programs.
• The program fosters interoperability and operational efficiency among emergency response organizations.
• Applicants should ensure compliance with SAM.gov registration, environmental and historic preservation requirements, and other grant management rules.

External Links

• FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program
• FY 2024 AFG Notice of Funding Opportunity and Guidance Documents
• FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO) Portal
• FEMA GO User Guides
• AFG Frequently Asked Questions
• Assistance to Firefighters Grants Success Stories
• FEMA Contact Page

Contact Information