Eligible Volunteer Fire Departments Offered New Grants

(TNS) – A new pilot program from the Texas A&M Forest Service is issuing grants of up to $3,000 to help volunteer fire departments with recruitment.

The Volunteer Recruitment Resources grants are available through the Rural VFD Assistance Program, and eligible volunteer fire departments can apply for reimbursement of 100 percent of the actual cost for recruitment resources up to $3,000.

“Resources such as banners, mailouts, billboards and other promotional items qualify for reimbursement but must convey a call to action for the recruitment of volunteers,” the forest service reported.

Total funding available for the pilot project is around $300,000 through federal Volunteer Fire Assistance Funds.

Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

Here are the eligibility requirements volunteer fire departments need to meet:

— The department must serve a rural area or rural community with a population of 10,000 people or less;

— The department must be certified by the Texas Division of Emergency Management as having adopted the National Incident Management System;

— The department must not be debarred, suspended or declared ineligible by any federal department or agency;

— The department must be comprised of at least 80 percent volunteer personnel.

“Volunteer fire departments provide essential frontline emergency services that directly protect Texans and the state’s natural resources every day,” said Wes Moorehead, Texas A&M Forest Service fire chief. “We are excited to continue investing in fire departments, building their capacity to offer lifesaving services and better serve their communities.”

Local departments can apply for Volunteer Recruitment Resources grants here: http://TexasFD.com/RuralVFDAssistanceProgram.

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