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FACT SHEET of Changes To SAFER Grant Program
What is SAFER?
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program was created to
provide funding to fire departments to hire additional fire fighters to help ensure compliance with
staffing, response and operational standards established by the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
What Has Changed?
The rules governing the use of SAFER funds have changed. The IAFF wrote and lobbied to also
make SAFER grants available to rehire fire fighters who have been laid off and bring back
positions that are not being filled as a result of the current financial crisis. In addition, SAFER
grants apply to municipalities that issued layoff notices before October 31, 2009, and have not yet
taken effect. Grants will be expedited in order to deliver funds as soon as possible.
For a position to be eligible for funding under the rehiring initiative, it must have been the object of
a layoff action that was effected between January 1, 2008 and October 31, 2009. The new rules
will NOT require your jurisdiction to match any of the federal funds or to provide maintenance
funding for the positions.
DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano delayed the 2009 application process to ensure that the $210
million that Congress appropriated for SAFER for Fiscal Year 2009 and the $420 million
appropriated for Fiscal Year 2010 are available under the new guidelines.
Who Can Apply?
Management must file for the grants, but the IAFF is available to assist your community in applying
for the grants.
The FY 2009 SAFER award conditions do not apply to previous SAFER grants, nor will they
remain in effect beyond 2010.
When Can You Apply?
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin accepting applications for Staffing for
Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants beginning November 16, 2009, at 8:00
a.m. Eastern Time. The application period will close December 18, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time.
Applications for $210 million in SAFER funding will be available through the Assistance to
Firefighters (FIRE Act) web site at
second application period will open in early 2010 for the $420 million appropriated for Fiscal Year
2010.
For additional information or assistance, contact Jennifer Stewart at (202) 824-8631 or
www.firegrantsupport.com, along with program guidance. A
jstewart@iaff.org
.
$25 Million in SAFER Grants for Firefighters
FEMA Announces $25 Million in SAFER Grants for Fire Fighters
June 25, 2010 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded another round of grants – totaling $25,786,555 -- to IAFF affiliates through the Staffing for Adequate Fire Emergency Response (SAFER) program for Fiscal Year 2009.
“This is very good news for these fire departments, which have been struggling to remain fully staffed and serving their communities through tough economic times,” said IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger. “These SAFER grants are putting more than 1,000 fire fighters back to work, and state and local governments should approve them as expeditiously as possible.”
IAFF departments have now received $134 million in SAFER grants since March 31. The grants that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is distributing now are fulfilling $210 million available in Fiscal Year 2009. Another $420 million has been appropriated for Fiscal Year 2010 and will be available under the new guidelines negotiated by the IAFF that allow SAFER funds to be used to rehire fire fighters laid off as a result of the economic crisis. The grants available in Fiscal Year 2010 will restore another 3,400 jobs.
Fall River, MA Local 1314 received $10,837,003 in this latest round, the largest SAFER grant awarded so far to a single community. Local 1314 President Michael Coogan says budget cuts have reduced Fall River’s count of fire fighters by about one third.
The grant, which he expects will win easy approval from local lawmakers, will help make 44 one-year positions permanent and will add another 44 positions, returning fire fighter staffing to levels not seen since 2008.
“This grant award has been a big boost to morale because a lot of fire fighters here have been concerned about their job security,” says Coogan, who expects to add fire fighters before the end of the year. “This will allow us to better protect the community and our membership.”
Other communities receiving SAFER grants in this round were: Chelsea (Massachusetts) Fire Department, $1,827,300; City of Clermont (Florida) Fire Department, $212,452; City of Petaluma (California) Fire Department, $1,230,180;
Cleveland (Ohio) Fire Department, $1,029,725; Kokomo (Indiana) Fire Department, $1,946,640; and New Orleans (Louisiana) Fire Department, $8,535,389.
Once a round of awards is determined, city officials must tell FEMA that it has accepted the grant. FEMA must then give Congress three days’ notice before the official public announcement is made.
While the majority of SAFER grants have been accepted by local officials, some IAFF affiliates have experienced trouble getting their cities to accept the grants. Some local officials have resisted hiring back fire fighters at a time when tight budgets are forcing cuts among other public sector employees.
For instance, Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District (represented by Southwest Florida Professional Fire Fighters Local 1826) was awarded nearly $9 million in SAFER funding in May. The City, however, initially balked at accepting the funding citing a number of reasons.
The IAFF, with the help of FEMA, was able to clarify misconceptions about the grant and convince Lehigh Acres officials to accept the funding.
SAFER grants for Fiscal Year 2010 could be made available as early as this summer.
The following information is available:
More Jobs Saved
(Posted: May 22, 2010 14:24:04)
More Firefighters Back to Work
(Posted: Jun 05, 2010 20:46:20)
Round Six of Safer Grant Awards
(Posted: Jun 13, 2010 16:02:32)
Page Last Updated: Jul 03, 2010 (08:05:42)
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