March 28, 2007 — The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Grants and Training (G&T) will begin accepting applications for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) beginning March 29, 2007, at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) with the deadline for receipt of the applications no later than May 4, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. EDT.  The AFG, which will be distributed in phases throughout FY 2007, will ultimately award approximately $492.3 million.

Interested applicants can access the FY 2007 AFG application through the AFG website (www.firegrantsupport.com), the U.S. Fire Administration’s (USFA) website (www.usfa.fema.gov), and the Grants.gov website (www.grants.gov).  The website contains important information on the AFG, including the FY 2007 funding priorities and program guidance, a web-based tutorial on the application process, a listing of frequently asked questions, and other materials.  Fire departments that have questions regarding this grant opportunity should contact the Help Desk at 1-866-274-0960 or at firegrants@dhs.gov.  During the application period, Help Desk hours will be from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT.  Additional help desk hours may be added if demand is high.

Eligible applicants for the FY 2007 AFG are limited to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service (EMS) organizations operating within the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Interested applicants may submit two separate applications for consideration under each of the following two program areas:

• Operations and Safety Program Area: Eligible activities for fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations are limited to training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities.
• Vehicle Acquisition Program Area: Eligible apparatus available to fire departments under this program area include, but are not limited to, pumpers, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats. 
  The FY 2007 AFG will also allow eligible applicants to submit an additional application for a regional project in which multiple organizations serving more than one local jurisdiction benefit directly from the activities implemented with the grant funds.