South Carolina Volunteer Fire Assistance Program

Grant Details:
Application Due Date: October 2012 est

Description: 

The South Carolina Forestry Commission administers two USDA Forest Service federally funded Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) programs, the VFA Title II grants and the VFA National Fire Plan grants. Both are 50/50 matching fund grants.

Fire departments serving a rural area or a rural community with a population of 10,000 or less are eligible for the Volunteer Fire Assistance program grants. Fire departments serving a population greater than 10,000 may qualify as long as the service area includes a rural area or the population of the fire department’s jurisdiction is 10,000 or less. The VFA funding must be used only for the benefit of the rural community. The intent of the program is to help the most needy fire departments based on criteria like ISO rating, budget, and budget source.

Volunteer Fire Assistance Grants are accepted from fire departments serving a rural community with a population of 10,000 or less. Those serving a population greater than 10,000 may qualify if service area includes a rural area and department’s response to wildland fires is significant.

• You may apply for any amount that your fire department can match; however, no single item will be reimbursed for more than $5,000. Items purchased and records of purchases are subject to being reviewed by federal and state authorities. Examples of equipment and supplies that may be purchased under the VFA grants are listed as an attachment to this letter.

• Purchases will be allowed from January 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012. Do not send copies of invoices with this application. You will be notified if your application is funded by December 31, 2011. At that time, you will be notified of where to send receipts and other required documentation.

• Type: 50/50 reimbursable matching program. If a Fire Department receives a $1,200 grant they must have receipts totaling $2,400. No single item can be more than $10,000.

• Time (at a rate of $19.51 per hour) and expenses the fire department incurs for refurbishing a federal excess truck (i.e. creating a brush truck) can be used as matching funds. (See Roscommon website http://www.roscommonequipmentcenter.com/ for additional information on wildland firefighting equipment.)

• Time spent attending Wildland Fire Training, which must be documented, can be credited at the rate of $19.51 per hour toward the fire department’s matching funds.

• An MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) must be completed and signed before a Fire Department can receive funds. The MOU will need to be renewed every 3 years and is required if the fire department participates in the Federal Excess Property Program. A revised Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is attached for those stations without a current MOU on file (current = within 3 years). These must be completed and signed by ALL Fire Departments regardless of whether or not applying for grants.

• The Fire Department must be in compliance with NIMS in regards to required training and currency to apply for VFA grants. Please complete and sign the attached form noting your compliance.

Application

Organization Information:
Organization: South Carolina Forestry Commission
Website: http://www.state.sc.us/forest/

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Michael J. Bozzo
Contact Email: mbozzo@forestry.state.sc.us
Contact Phone: 803-896-8810

More Information:
http://www.state.sc.us/forest/fgrants.htm