Fire and emergency response grants now open for counties
Author
Brett Mattson
Naomi Freel
Upcoming Events
Related News
Key Takeaways
On May 20, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the opening of the Fiscal Year 2024 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program and the Fiscal Year 2024 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program, which support fire departments and firefighter organizations in increasing staffing and improving safety nationwide. With a combined $396 million in available funding, these programs help fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations increase or maintain staffing levels, enhance community fire prevention efforts and support research into best practices for firefighter safety—ensuring strong, reliable fire protection and emergency response in counties across the nation.
SAFER Grant Program
- The program offers $360 million in grants directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations in counties across the U.S.
- SAFER grants aim to increase or maintain trained firefighters to meet industry standards, attain 24-hour staffing and enhance fire protection capabilities, ensuring communities are adequately safeguarded.
- Since 2005, SAFER has awarded approximately $5.2 billion, supporting skilled firefighting workforce training, enhancing local capacity and saving county residents' lives by supporting adequate staffing.
FP&S Grant Program
- The program offers $36 million in funding directly to fire departments or other interest organizations for fire prevention programs and firefighter safety research.
- FP&S grants aims to enhance community fire prevention efforts and support scientific research on innovations meant to reduce injury and improve the overall health of firefighters.
- Since 2002, FP&S has awarded nearly $900 million, supporting fire prevention and identifying best practices for ensuring the safety and overall wellbeing of firefighters.
Application deadline
The SAFER and FP&S funding opportunities are available at Grants.gov. The application period for both the FY24 SAFER and FP&S programs will open at 9 a.m. ET on May 23, 2025, and close on July 3, 2025, at 5 p.m. ET. Eligible applicants must apply via FEMA Grants Outcomes (GO).
Advocacy
NACo comments on proposed OSHA fire safety standards
On February 5, 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published a Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) for their new “Emergency Response Standards,” which seek to replace OSHA’s current Fire Brigades standard.
Related News
U.S. House reintroduces legislation to address the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy with NACo support
Two bipartisan bills aimed at addressing the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion Policy (MIEP) were recently reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.
U.S. House of Representatives re-establishes Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus with NACo support
On May 7, members of the U.S. House of Representatives appointed new leadership to the Bipartisan Mental Health Caucus, reaffirming their commitment to addressing the nation’s mental health crisis through cross-party collaboration.
New disaster recovery grants now open to support county economic development
The U.S. Economic Development Administration has launched the Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program, making $1.45 billion available to help communities recover from natural disasters and build long-term economic resilience. Counties affected by major disaster declarations in 2023 or 2024 are eligible to apply for funding to rebuild infrastructure, strengthen local economies and prepare for future disruptions. This program goes beyond immediate recovery, aiming to transform local economies and foster sustainable, long-term economic growth.