Grant and Funding Source

Welcome to the Grants and Resources page of the Firewise Communities website. The vision of the national Firewise Communities program is that, with adequate planning and cooperation among varying interests, wildfires can occur without disastrous loss of life, property, and resources. While the Firewise program does not provide grants, review of the resources on this page should help those with an interest in Firewise concepts find the assistance they need to take action to become safer from wildfire.

Do you need a grant?

There are many different Firewise activities that can help homes and whole neighborhoods become safer from wildfire without significant expense. Community clean-up days, awareness events, and other cooperative activities can often be successfully accomplished through partnerships among neighbors, local businesses, and local fire departments, at little or no cost. The Firewise Communities/USA recognition program page (www.firewise.org/usa) provides a number of excellent examples of these kinds of projects and programs.

What kind of help do you need?

Depending on who you are, where you are, and what you want to do, the kind of help you need may vary. Among the different activities individuals and neighborhoods can undertake, the following actions are often ones that benefit from some kind of seed funding or additional assistance from an outside source:

· Thinning/pruning/tree removal/clearing on private property – particularly on very large, densely wooded properties
· Retrofit of home roofing or siding to noncombustible materials
· Managing private forest
· Community slash pickup or chipping
· Creation or improvement of access/egress roads
· Improvement of water supply for firefighting
· Public education activities throughout the community or region

Some additional examples of what communities, counties and states have done can be found in the National Database of State and Local Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Programs at www.wildfireprograms.usda.gov. You can search this database by keyword, state, jurisdiction or program type to find information about wildfire mitigation education programs, grant programs, ordinances, and more. The database includes links to local websites and email contacts.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR HELP

The National Fire Plan

Many states are using funds from the National Fire Plan (www.fireplan.gov) to provide funds through a cost-share with residents to help them reduce the wildfire risk to their private property. Usually this is in the form of thinning or pruning trees, shrubs and other vegetation and/or clearing the slash and debris from this kind of work. See an example here http://www.muni.org/fire1/costsharetreeremoval.cfm from the Anchorage, Alaska, Fire Department, which sponsors a cost-share program for tree removal to meet Firewise goals.

Many states are administering grants using National Fire Plan monies and other sources. The list that follows includes state and regional programs that provide grants for Firewise activities of some kind. Please note that not all programs have the same grant availability dates and requirements.

STATES:

California
The California Fire Safe Council maintains a Grants Clearinghouse for California communities at http://grants.firesafecouncil.org/

Colorado
The Colorado Wildfire Mitigation Program Directory from Colorado State University Cooperative Extension (http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/natres/wildfiredirectory.pdf) provides its own listing of programs, projects, funding sources and places to get technical assistance in Colorado.

Kentucky
The Kentucky Firewise Community Grant Program at http://www.forestry.ky.gov/programs/firewise/ Firewise+Community+Grants.htm describes its eligible high priority projects to include development of local Firewise Councils or Boards; completion of a community wildfire hazard assessment; GIS mapping of at-risk communities; consulting services to complete a community wildfire hazard assessment or a community Emergency Action Plan; Firewise or fire mitigation activities that follow the intent of the National Fire Plan; Firewise or fire mitigation educational activities or materials that can be used to educate the community.

Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has an excellent Firewise website that includes resources and tips for Firewise action at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/firewise/index.html. There is also a community grant page for Minnesota communities at http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/backyard/firewise/ community_grantpacket.pdf that includes grants for organized townships, fire districts, cities and counties in the state.

North Carolina
The North Carolina Firewise program at http://www.ncfirewise.org/ provides guidance on how to become a Firewise Community and has established a community grant using National Fire Plan funds. North Carolina communities who have met the criteria for Firewise Communities/USA recognition status up to the point of developing a plan may be eligible for up to $25,000 per year to implement projects identified in their plan. The application form at http://www.ncfirewise.org/NCCommunity_app.pdf includes cost-share requirements and contact information for grant administrators.

North Dakota
North Dakota has developed a Community Firewise Landscape Challenge Grant http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/lbakken/forest/comm_forestry/ firewise_home.htm and Community Wildfire Planning Grants http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/lbakken/forest/comm_forestry/ com_fire_plan_home.htm

Ohio
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources provides Firewise grants to fire departments see http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/forestry/Fire/firewisegrants.htm

Virginia
The Virginia Department of Forestry and Firewise Virginia maintain a Mitigation Grant Program at http://www.dof.virginia.gov/fire/firewise-03-grant-prog-criteria.shtml

Wisconsion
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources website has a “Grants, Plans and Programs” area in its Planners Toolbox webpage at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/forestry/SmartForestry/ toolbox/grants.html that includes grant listings for WUI activities.

REGIONS:

The Southwest Area Forest, Fire and Community Assistance Grants Website http://www.southwestregiongrants.org/index.php is an excellent clearinghouse for grants and assistance in Arizona and New Mexico.

The Pacific Northwest National Fire Plan Website, http://www.nwfireplan.gov, provides a clearinghouse for Oregon and Washington for federal grants to mitigate in the wildland/urban interface. The Grant Opportunity Summary Table http://www.nwfireplan.gov/CommunityAssistance/12GrantsOps.pdf is a helpful matrix to review.

Many Western states make use of the Western States Fire Assistance Competitive Grant Program http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/sfa_grants/sfa_grants.html. Grants focusing on Firewise activities in the wildland/urban interface may be submitted by state agencies on behalf of cooperators, partners or clients.

Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency/US Fire Administration

The Department of Homeland Security includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA’s Federal Mitigation & Insurance Administration is responsible for promoting pre-disaster activities that can reduce the likelihood or magnitude of loss to life and property from multiple hazards, including wildfire. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 created a requirement for states and communities to develop pre-disaster mitigation plans, and established funding to support the development of the plans and to implement actions identified in the plans.

The details on FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Planning and Project Grants can be found at http://www.fema.gov/fima/pdm.shtm. This competitive grant program, known as PDM, has funds available to state entities, tribes and local governments to help develop multi-hazard mitigation plans and to implement projects identified in those plans. Approximately $255 million is available for competitive grants, technical assistance, and program support for the Fiscal Year 2005 (10/1/2004-9/30/2005) PDM program. See the link above for more guidance and information about eligibility, deadlines and cost-share information. The application period is currently open, and the deadline for application submission is March 14, 2005. For more information about the planning requirements that are a pre-requisite to receiving project funding, visit http://www.fema.gov/fima/planning.shtm.

While individual communities can apply for PDM grants, they are advised to work with their state contacts in emergency management or mitigation as they are developing their plans and projects. There are other sources of post-disaster funding (including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program) for which communities will need to collaborate with their state agency representatives. State Hazard Mitigation Officers are your state-level connection to various grants and assistance related to natural hazard preparedness and planning as well as some post-disaster activities. See the list at FEMA’s website at http://www.fema.gov/fima/hmgp/statedir.shtm.

In addition, the following individuals have been identified as the points of contacts for communities interested in mitigation and wildfire within FEMA’s ten regional offices.

FEMA Region I - Serving Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont: 99 High Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02110. Marilyn Hilliard, (617) 956-9536 or marilyn.Hilliard@dhs.gov. Main desk (617) 956-9540.
FEMA Region II - Serving New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands: 26 Federal Plaza, Rm. 1307, New York, NY 10278-0001. Marshall Mabry, (212) 680-3635 or marshall.mabry@dhs.gov . Main desk (212) 680-3600.
FEMA Region III - Serving the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia: 1 Independence Mall, 6th Floor, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404. Gene Marrone, (215) 931-5656 or gene.marrone@dhs.gov. Main desk (215) 931-5608.
FEMA Region IV - Serving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee: 3003 Chamblee-Tucker Road, Atlanta, GA 30341. Steven Randolph, (770) 220-5418 or steven.randolph@dhs.gov. Main desk (770) 220-5400.
FEMA Region V - Serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin: 536 S. Clark Street, 6th Floor, Chicago, IL 60605. Christine Stack, (312) 408-5570 or Christine.stack@dhs.gov. Main desk (312) 408-5320.
FEMA Region VI - Serving Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas: 800 North Loop 288, Denton, TX 76209-3698. Greg Solovey, (940) 878-5143 or greg.solovey@dhs.gov. Main desk (940) 898-5399.
FEMA Region VII - Serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska: 2323 Grand Avenue, Suite 900, Kansas City, MO 64108-2670. Shelly Jones, (816) 283-7014 or shelly.jones@dhs.gov. Main desk (816) 283-7061.
FEMA Region IX - Serving Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, the Territory of American Samoa, the Territory of Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: 1111 Broadway, Suite 1200, Oakland, CA 94607-4052. Sally Ziolkowski, (510) 627-7103 or sally.ziolkowski@dhs.gov. Main desk (510) 627-7100.
FEMA Region X - Serving Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington: Federal Regional Center, 130 228th Street, SW, Bothell, WA 98021. Christine Jonientz-Trisler, (425) 487-4645 or Christine.jonientz-trisler@dhs.gov. Main desk (425) 487-4600.

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Domestic Preparedness and the US Fire Administration offer the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Review the Fire Grant Support page at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/ for full information on the program, including the overall Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant Program.

Eligibility for the AFG is limited to fire departments in the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as well as the Alaska Village Initiative.

Eligibility for the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant is broader, and includes national, regional, State, local, or community organizations (including fire departments) that are recognized for their experience and expertise in fire prevention or safety programs and activities. Private non-profit and public organizations are eligible to apply for funding for the Fire Prevention and Safety grants. The typical application window for these grants is 30 days. Interested applicants are advised to check the website periodically for announcements of grant availability. For example, in 2004 the AFG application window was from March 1 to April 2, and the Fire Prevention and Safety Grant was open for applications from September 1 to September 30. The website also features a newsletters subscription to keep potential applicants up to date, as well as tutorials on how to apply and how to use the e-grants system.

PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS

The Urban Land Institute (www.uli.org) or ULI is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit research and education organization supported by its members. The institute has more than 22,000 members worldwide representing the entire spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines, working in private enterprise and public service. The mission of the Urban Land Institute is to provide responsible leadership in the use of land to enhance the total environment. ULI and the ULI Foundation have instituted Community Action Grants http://planet.uli.org/DK/DisCoun/pl_DisCoun_CAG_fst.html that could be used for Firewise activities. The deadline for the next round of applications is March 31, 2005. Applicants must be ULI members or part of a ULI District Council. Contact actiongrants@uli.org or review the web page to find your District Council and the application information.

The Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. or ESRI is a privately held firm and the world’s largest research and development organization dedicated to GIS (Geographic Information Systems). ESRI provides free software, hardware, and training bundles under ESRI-Sponsored Grants (see www.esri.com/grants) that include such activities as conservation, education and sustainable development, and posts related non-ESRI grant opportunities under such categories as agriculture, education, environment, fire, public safety and more. You can register on the website to receive updates on grant opportunities.

StEPP Foundation http://www.steppfoundation.org/default.htm is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to helping organizations realize their vision of a clean and safe environment by nationally matching projects with funders. The StEPP Foundation provides project oversight to enhance the success of projects increasing the number of energy efficiency, clean energy and pollution prevention projects implemented at the local, state and national levels for the benefit of the public. The website includes an online project submittal system and a Request for Proposals page.

The Public Entity Risk Institute (www.riskinstitute.org) is a not for profit, tax exempt organization. Its mission is to serve public, private, and nonprofit organizations as a dynamic, forward thinking resource for the practical enhancement of risk management. With its growing array of programs and projects, along with its grant funding, PERI’s focus includes supporting the development and delivery of education and training on all aspects of risk management for public, nonprofit and small business entities and serving as a resource center and clearinghouse for all areas of risk management. More information on PERI’s grant and research program can be found at http://www.riskinstitute.org/test.php?pid=page&tid=23.

How to find/apply for/write a grant

Grants.gov at www.grants.gov allows organizations to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies. Grants.gov is THE single access point for over 900 grant programs offered by the 26 Federal grant-making agencies.

“Writing Grants to Get Things Done” was presented at the National Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Education Conference in November 2004, by André LeDuc, Director of the Oregon Natural Hazards Workgroup. As a University of Oregon professor and researcher, Mr. LeDuc over $1 million in planning and technical assistance grants in the past three years. His presentation covers twelve steps to successfully developing and implementing grant proposals.

Your organization may be interested in becoming a tax-exempt nonprofit organization to qualify for federal grants. If so, visit the U.S. Internal Revenue Site for the details: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p557/ch03.html.

The Firewise web page includes networking resources for communities and state officials to share information, success stories and tips.