Staff at the Region XII Council of Governments is offering help to local fire departments interested in applying for grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) was created in 2001 to help fire departments and other first responders secure needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and similar resources necessary to protect their communities. However, the grant is highly competitive as only about a quarter of applications receive funding. Region XII staff will assist in preparing department applications at no cost. Interested applicants must have an updated SAM.gov registration, a documented need, and an estimated cost when submitting their documentation, which is due back to FEMA by Feb. 10. Awards vary based on the application and range from as little as a few hundred dollars up to seven-figure values. Departments wanting assistance securing AFG funding can contact Region XII staff using the contact points included below.
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Phone: 712-792-9914
Chris Whitaker: cwhitaker@region12cog.org
Lauren Mortensen: lmortensen@region12cog.org
Alex Foley: afoley@region12cog.org
Luke Hamill: lhamill@region12cog.org
Nina Nassif: nnassif@region12cog.org
