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Home > Forest Protection > 2009 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program

2009 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Program

The Forest Protection Division, a division of the Maine Forest Service, Maine Department of Conservation announces the release of FY-2009 Volunteer Fire Assistance Grant Funds for fire departments serving a population of less than 10,000.  Departments are encouraged to apply for funding under this 50% cost share program for wildland firefighting equipment.

Program Details (pdf)

Application (pdf)

Program Details

Application deadline: January 29, 2010

The Forest Protection Division, a division of the Maine Forest Service, Maine Department of Conservation, in cooperation with the United States Forest Service and the Forestry Committee of the Maine Fire Chief’s Association is pleased to announce that applications for the VFA cost share grant program are currently being accepted for the FY2009 VFA program. 

What is the purpose of the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program?

The purpose of the Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program, formerly known as the Rural Community Fire Protection (RCFP) program, is to provide Federal financial, technical and other assistance to state foresters and other appropriate officials to organize, train, and equip fire departments in rural areas and rural communities to prevent and suppress fires.  A rural community is defined as having 10,000 or less population.  This 10,000 population limit for participation in the VFA program is meant to ensure that distribution of available VFA funding to fire departments most in need of financial assistance. 

Eligibility:

Below are the eligibility criteria for application to the VFA program.
 

  1. A single fire department serving a rural area or a rural community with a population of 10,000 or less is eligible (latest Census).
  2. A single community with a population greater than 10,000 and having a single fire department with one or more fire stations may qualify. The fire department must have a service area that exclusively serves a rural area or community that does not exceed 10,000 population. The VFA funding must be used only for the benefit of that rural population. Similarly a single community with a population greater than 10,000 which also provides fire protection to an adjoining rural community of 10,000 or less population by contract, may also be eligible provided the VFA funding is used entirely to support the rural community.
  3. A single community fire department serving a population greater than 10,000 and not providing protection to a rural area or to a rural community is not eligible for VFA financial assistance.

Application Deadline: 

The application deadline is January 29, 2010.  All applications must have been postmarked or received at the Forest Protection Division Office; 22 State House Station; Augusta, ME  04333-0022 (physical location is 18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Building, 3rd Floor, Augusta, ME  04333) by that date.  Any application postmarked or received after that date will not be considered. 

Highlights of the Volunteer Fire Assistance 2009 Grant Program:

  1. For this grant the following items or functions will be eligible:  a) wildland fire personal protective equipment, b) Pumps and associated equipment used in wildland fire suppression, c) Class A foam used in wildland fire suppression, d) equipment for foam application, e) hand or power tools used in wildland fire suppression, f) portable radios and pagers, g) dry hydrants, h) hose used for wildland fire suppression, i) nozzles used for wildland fire suppression, j) other equipment used for wildland fire suppression.
  2. No single piece of equipment shall exceed $3,000.00 in cost.  Grant requests exceeding $3,000 will not be considered, i.e.: ($3,000 request + $3,000 match = $6,000 total project).  Local contribution may exceed the match requirement, i.e. ($3,000 request + $5,000 match = $8,000 total project costs).

Program Guidelines:

  1. The application must be signed by an authorized representative of the fire department / municipality.
  2. Application must be technically consistent and complete.
  3. Applications for more than $3,000 in grant funds will not be considered.  Grant funds must be matched with an equal amount of local funds($3,000 grant funds + $3,000 matching funds = $6,000 project).
  4. No single item may cost more than $3,000.
  5. Costs of items shall not exceed GSA listed prices by more than 10%.  Applicants are encouraged to obtain items through GSA acquisition whenever possible.  The GSA catalog can be found on-line at:
    http://www.gsa.gov/gsa/cm_attachments/GSA_DOCUMENT/9-00067_WF09_enhanced_3-5_R2FI-eV_0Z5RDZ-i34K-pR.pdf
  1. Final selections will be made by March 15, 2010.  Projects must be completed by October 29, 2010.  Projects and/or final reports not completed by this date will be terminated and will not be funded.  NO EXCEPTIONS.
  2. The signed " agreement" and " assurance" forms must be completed, signed and returned to the program coordinator no later than June 30, 2010.  If these documents are not received by this date, the award may be terminated and funds reallocated.
  3. Funds will be sent only when the project has been satisfactorily completed and final reports received and approved. 
  4. Final reports must include: proof of purchase via invoices, and town warrants and/or canceled checks as evidence that equipment was purchased. 

Requests For Funding will NOT be Considered for:

  1. Repair or construction of buildings,
  2. Land acquisition,
  3. Water lines and hydrants (except for dry-hydrants),
  4. Vehicles or associated construction of surplus or newly acquired vehicles,
  5. Hose over 1 ½ inch,
  6. PTO pumps,
  7. Generators,
  8. Any equipment not related to wildland fire suppression,
  9. Routine operating expenses,
  10. Base station radios, antennas, etc.
  11. Any portable radio costing more than $500 per radio,
  12. Cellular phones.

Matching Funds Guidelines:

  1. Minimum match is 50% of the total project cost.
  2. Applicants must match grant funds with cash on an equal cost share basis.

 

Selection Criteria:

  1. Applications will be evaluated and selected by members of the Division of Forest Protection and the Maine Fire Chief’s Association’s Forestry Committee. 
  2. All projects must demonstrate that it will be used in wild land fire suppression.