FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, March 3, 2004

CONTACT: Al Christie, State Fire Marshal, (605) 773-3562                                                                                                                       

S.D. fire departments should apply for assistance program 

PIERRE, S.D. – State Fire Marshal Al Christie announced today that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has opened the application period for the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program (AFGP).   

“We are inviting all South Dakota fire departments to apply for assistance,” said Christie.  “These funds will be used to increase the effectiveness of our firefighting operations, in the state to improve firefighter health and safety programs and to establish or expand fire prevention and safety programs.”

South Dakota fire departments are invited to participate in a grant workshop on Wednesday, March 10, 6:30 to 10 p.m. (CST) on the Digital Dakota Network (DDN).  The South Dakota Fire Marshal's Office and Regional VIII Fire Specialist Lynn Pisano-Pedigo will discuss how to successfully write grant applications. There will be much time for questions about the application process and the new 2004 information. Visit the State Fire Marshal Office site at http://www.state.sd.us/dps/fire/FIRE_hom.htm for available DDN sites.

The application period will be open through Friday, April 2, 2004, and is administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP).  The program assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. Through the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2004, Congress provided $745.6 million for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program and transferred administration of the program from FEMA to ODP.  

All program areas and activities available last year are eligible for funding again this year.  Federal grantees must obtain a DUNS number by calling 1-800-333-0505 as soon as possible. The Federal government will use the DUNS number to better identify related organizations that are receiving funding under grants and cooperative agreements and to provide consistent name and address data for electronic grant applications.  

Additional information about DUNS numbers can be found on the Dun & Bradstreet Web site (www.dnb.com/US/duns_update/index.html).  There is no charge to obtain a DUNS number, and it is the applicant's responsibility to obtain one.  

As in past years, the Application and Program Guidance are automated and will be available online on March 1, 2004. They will both be accessible from the ODP Website (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp) and USFA Website (www.usfa.fema.gov).  Additionally, the websites contain other useful background information on the AFGP, including a tutorial on applying for the program, a list of Frequently Asked Questions and the currently scheduled AFGP workshops.  

South Dakota fire departments should contact the fire grant help desk at 1-866-274-0960 or firegrants@dhs.gov for questions about the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

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