USFA partners with Fire Grants for Open Discussion with Unsuccessful Applicants

u s d h s f e m a assistance to firefighters grant program

Open Discussion with Unsuccessful Applicants | AUGUST 2022

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program is constantly seeking ways to improve. In FY 2021 there were just over 8,000 fire departments that submitted applications for funding. This seems like a lot of applications, but it is only representative of roughly 30% of the fire departments nationwide. For the first time in the history of the AFG program, we are establishing listening sessions to hear from those departments that did not apply.


Using the data from applications submitted in FY21 and comparing that to data from the U.S. Fire Administration Fire Department Registry, we were able to identify your organization as not having applied in FY21. We are hoping that you will consider joining one of our listening sessions to help us understand why you did not apply. This is especially important if those reasons are related to online systems such as SAM.gov or FEMA GO; lack of resources (match funds, grant writing experience, unreliable internet access, staffing/capacity challenges.); language barriers; or other socioeconomic challenges. In return we hope to use your comments and suggestions to improve the AFG program. We will also take time to answer any questions you may have about the program.


Please find the schedule for the listening sessions below. Please click on the link to respective session you’d like to attend. Each session is expected to last one hour and will be comprised of a brief introduction, time to identify issues, a collaborative brainstorming session, and time for Q&A. The sessions are limited to 1,500 attendants. Please note that there is one session specifically for tribal fire departments. If are receiving this email and serve a tribal fire department, please try to attend that session so we can discuss your unique needs. If demand exceeds the planned sessions, consideration will be given to providing additional opportunities.

If you are unable to attend, please send any comments you may have regarding the reasons you did not apply in 2021 to FEMA-AFG-Response@fema.dhs.gov.


FY 2021 AFG Listening Session Schedule (Eastern Time Zone)

 
 
 

Date

Time

Workshop Offering

Length

Registration Link

 

8/1/2022

10am

Session 1

60 Min

Session 1

 

8/3/2022

12pm

Session 2

60 Min

Session 2

 

8/3/2022

5pm

Session 3

60 Min

Session 3

 

8/6/2022

11am

Session 4

60 Min

Session 4

 

8/9/2022

10am

Session 5

60 Min

Session 5

 

8/9/2022

2pm

Session 6

60 Min

Session 6

 

8/9/2022

4pm

Tribal

60 Min

Tribal Session

 

8/10/2022

12pm

Session 7

60 Min

Session 7

 

8/11/2022

5pm

Session 8

60 Min

Session 8

 

8/11/2022

7pm

Session 9

60 Min

Session 9

 


SHARE YOUR SUCCESS STORY

Do you have a Success Story regarding a FEMA Grant that you’d like to share with everyone? Contact us at gpd-comms@fema.dhs.gov or through Twitter @FEMAGrants using a private message.


HAVE FEEDBACK? 

The AFG Program Office always welcomes feedback from the AFG community. If there are topics or information that you may find helpful in future monthly updates from the AFG Program, please send any thoughts to the AFG Help Desk (firegrants@fema.dhs.gov). 


Twitter @FEMAGrants 

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