Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program now underway

The Department of Homeland Security has published the notice for the 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. The distribution of grants has been held up by the delayed posting. Typically, fire departments began receiving awards announcements as early as June.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grants' reauthorization required that the Department of Homeland Security convene an annual meeting with members of the national fire service for the purpose of recommending criteria for awarding grants.  Also, the reauthorization required that each year, prior to making any grants, DHS must publish in the Federal Register 1) a description of the process for applying for grants, 2) the criteria for awarding grants, and 3) an explanation of any differences between the national fire service's recommendations and the criteria used by DHS.

The Notice for the 2006 program year was published in the Federal Register on September 6, 2006, and it signals the commencement of the processing of the 2006 award cycle.  The Notice can be viewed at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/pdf/E6-14759.pdf.  Awards are expected to be issued and announced in about 4 weeks, continuing through the calendar year.