Fire and emergency responders grant now open for counties
Author
Brett Mattson
Naomi Freel
Upcoming Events
Related News
Key Takeaways
On March 11, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced the opening of the Fiscal Year 2023 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. With $360 million available, this funding opportunity will assist local fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations in increasing or maintaining the number of trained firefighters protecting counties across the nation.
What does the SAFER Grant Program do?
- 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.
Application deadline
The SAFER funding opportunity is available at Grants.gov. The application period closes on April 12, 2024, at 5 p.m. ET. Eligible applicants must apply via FEMA GO.
County News
Counties reach out to diverse recruits to shore up firefighting teams
Counties across the country, including Wake County, N.C., Kershaw County, S.C. and Mariposa County, Calif., are getting more intentional about firefighter shortages by diversifying their fire services.
Related News
U.S. Senate reintroduces bipartisan disaster mitigation bill to support homeowners
On January 30, a bipartisan group of senators reintroduced the Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2025, a bill aimed at eliminating federal taxation of state-provided residential mitigation grants. NACo previously supported this legislation and continues to advocate for its passage to support county resilience efforts.
Crash sets big stage for well-honed county mutual aid response effort
Local counties responded with practiced coordination to the deadly collision between an airplane and helicopter, offering help for search and rescue, recovery and support operations.
County Countdown – February 11, 2025
Every other week, NACo's County Countdown reviews top federal policy advocacy items with an eye towards counties and the intergovernmental partnership. This week features a first 100 days update, testimony on rural road safety and more.