Agency: Pennsylvania Office of the State Fire Commissioner

Award Floor: $2,500

Eligible applicants: Fire companies, EMS, and rescue squads. To receive grant funds a fire company shall have actively responded to 15 or more fire or rescue emergencies during the previous calendar year and is officially recognized by the appropriate municipality. The fire company shall also agree to participate in the reporting of information (incidents) using the Pennsylvania Fire Information Reporting System (PennFIRS). Eligible projects must improve and enhance the capabilities of the fire company to provide firefighting, ambulance, or rescue services. Eligible projects are:<br />(i) Construction and renovation of facilities and purchase or repair of fixtures and furnishings, office equipment, and support services necessary to maintain or improve the capability of the company to provide fire, ambulance, or rescue services. This includes repair, renovation, or construction of sleeping quarters (bunk rooms) and training rooms. Any work done must be performed by a licensed contractor registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. Members of fire/EMS companies cannot be paid for labor, they can only purchase materials.<br />(ii) Repair of firefighting, ambulance, or rescue equipment OR purchase thereof; <br />a. Includes the purchase of fuel for company vehicles<br /> (iii) Debt reduction associated with already completed projects eligible under subsection (i) and (ii) <br />(iv) Training and certification of members;<br />(v) Education of the general public regarding fire prevention and community risk reduction:<br />(vi) Career Fire Departments Only- any regular wage costs for personnel or overtime costs associated with backfilling positions while firefighters are attending training;<br />(vii) Recruitment and retention, including but not limited to, volunteer firefighter length of service award programs and programs for minors;<br />(viii) Construction Savings Account – A fire company may apply for a grant under subsection (a) for the purpose of constructing a new facility beginning with the grant period commencing for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. This project CANNOT BE AMENDED. The grant shall be deposited into the Construction Savings Account, which is established within the State Treasury. Money in the Construction Savings Account may be withdrawn by application of the fire company. The Construction Savings Account shall be administered by the Commissioner. The following shall apply:<br /><br />(1) A fire company may only access money in the Construction Savings Account for emergency purposes and at the discretion of the Commissioner.<br /><br />(2) For a fire company to withdraw money from the Construction Savings Account:<br />(i)The application shall contain the signatures of two duly elected officers of the fire company.<br />(ii)The fire company shall indicate on the application how the money is going to be used under subsection a).<br /><br />(3) Any interest accrued on the Construction Savings Account may be used by the Commissioner for administrative purposes.<br />

Application Opens: September 6, 2024

Application Deadline: October 20, 2024