Landing grant money for your team is difficult, but not impossible. The money is there, you just have to know where to look and the right ways to go about asking for it.
Whether you are looking to buy your first HazSim system, expand your existing system, or looking for other hazmat training equipment, getting grant money can be the difference in getting that equipment in the hands of your trainers and firefighters.
Also Read: How to Prep for Upcoming Fire Grants
Here’s a quick guide to finding your next grant.
Federal Grants
Look into grants offered by federal agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. Here are some of their specific programs.
- Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/assistance-grants
- Emergency Management Performance Grant: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/emergency-management-performance
- Hazard Mitigation Grant Program: https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation
- Homeland Security Grant Program: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/homeland-security/apply
- Urban Areas Security Initiative Grants: https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/homeland-security/fy-24-fact-sheet
- Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness Grants: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/about-phmsa/working-phmsa/grants/hazmat/hazardous-materials-emergency-preparedness-hmep-grant
- Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Grants: https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/about-phmsa/working-phmsa/grants
State and Local Grants
Many states have their own grant programs for emergency services. Check with your state’s emergency management agency or office of homeland security.
Private Foundations, Organizations and Corporations
There are numerous private foundations that offer grants for public safety and emergency services. Here are some.
- Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation: https://grants.firehousesubs.com/
- Motorola Solutions Foundation: https://www.motorolasolutions.com/en_us/about/motorola-solutions-foundation/annual-grants.html
- The Leary Firefighters Foundation: https://learyfirefighters.org/grant/
- TRANSCAER Hazmat Team Response Fund: https://www.transcaer.com/about-transcaer/hazmat-team-response-fund
- National Volunteer Fire Council and CHEMTREC Hazardous Emergency Local Preparedness Award: https://www.nvfc.org/apply-now-to-receive-a-10000-grant-to-enhance-hazmat-preparedness-and-response/
Nailing the Application
Typically, grant applications have several sections where you will explain your need for the money and how it will be used if you are awarded a grant. Here’s a look at common sections and ideas for how to best approach them.
Needs Assessment
Clearly articulate your team’s needs. Include specific incidents where having the equipment could have made a difference. Do a deep dive into your team’s needs and be clear that maximum word or character counts may apply. A needs assessment could include lines like this.
Provide statistics on the number of hazardous materials incidents your team has responded to in the past few years. Highlight any increase in the frequency or severity of these incidents.
Explain how the lack of realistic training tools impacts your team’s preparedness. Detail any safety concerns related to inadequate training. Include examples of near-misses or incidents where improved training could have prevented accidents.
“In the past year, our team responded to 25 hazardous materials incidents, a 15% increase from the previous year. These incidents involved a variety of hazardous substances, including chemicals and flammable materials.
“Our hazmat team routinely trains firefighters and hazmat techs in our region on how to handle routine to once-in-a-career spills and leaks. The amount of truck and rail traffic, combined with our high percentage of residential occupancies makes hands-on training a must. Having a HazSim system is critical for realistic, hands-on training that simulates hazardous materials scenarios from residential leaks to train derailments. This technology will allow our team to practice in a controlled environment, reducing the risk during actual incidents.
“Our current training methods rely heavily on theoretical instruction and limited practical exercises. This lack of realistic, hands-on training tools like the HazSim system hampers our ability to fully prepare for actual hazardous materials incidents.
“During a recent response to a chemical spill, a team member was exposed to harmful vapors due to a lapse in protocol. A HazSim system would allow us to realistically simulate such scenarios and reinforce safety protocols, thereby reducing the risk of exposure.”
Impact Statement
Explain how what you are asking for will improve the effectiveness and safety of your hazmat team. Provide data or examples that illustrate the potential impact on your community’s safety.
Explain how improved training will benefit the community. Discuss the potential reduction in response times and increased effectiveness in handling hazardous materials incidents.
“By incorporating the HazSim system into our training regimen, we expect to see a marked improvement in our team’s ability to quickly and safely handle hazardous materials incidents. This will not only protect our team members but also the wider community from potential harm. By enhancing our training with a HazSim system, we can reduce response times and increase the effectiveness of our interventions, ultimately minimizing the impact of hazardous materials incidents on our community.”
Detailed Budget
Provide a detailed budget that outlines the cost of what you are asking for, any associated training and ongoing maintenance or support costs. You may also need to include overall team or department budget numbers to show need. Break down the cost of what you are asking for over the course of the expected life of the system based on your past needs.
For example, if you want $15,000 for a HazSim system and training, and your department had 25 hazmat calls last year and 100 CO alarms (not false alarms), your cost per call would be $9.60 if the system is in use for 10 years. This can also be used in the impact statement above.
“The requested funds will be used to purchase the HazSim system — which includes prebuilt training modules and a platform to track training completed — as well as to cover initial training costs and a support package to ensure the device remains operational and effective. “Our current budget does not allow for the purchase of advanced training equipment like the HazSim. External funding is essential to bridge this gap and ensure our team is adequately prepared.”
Support Letters
Include letters of support from local government officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders who can attest to the importance and potential impact of the grant.