Title
2017 Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Action
Action:
A. Authorize the Charlotte Fire Department to apply for a grant for the 2017 Assistance to Firefighters local grant program for extrication equipment and turnout gear, and
B. Authorize the Charlotte Fire Department to apply for a grant for the 2017 Assistance to Firefighters regional grant program to enhance regional radio communications.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Pete Key, Fire
Kevin Gordon, Fire
Rich Granger, Fire
Explanation
§ The Assistance to Firefighters Grant is a competitive federal grant program that the Charlotte Fire Department (CFD) applies for annually.
§ Under the Assistance to Firefighters grant program, awards are granted at both the local and regional level. CFD will apply for both the local and regional programs.
§ Each grant requires a local match which will be met by using existing equipment and radio replacement funding.
§ If awarded, CFD will request City Council authorization to accept and appropriate the federal award amounts in the spring of 2018.
Action A-2017 Assistance to Firefighters Local Grant
§ The 2017 Assistance to Firefighters local grant program allows fire and emergency medical service departments to apply for grants for equipment and protective gear.
§ CFD will apply to use the local grant program funding to purchase the following:
- 431 sets of turnout gear to replace the gear that is approximately 8-10 years old and nearing end of its useful life.
- Extrication equipment to outfit four ladder companies.
§ The local grant would be 90 percent federal share and 10 percent local match.
- The applications will request a federal award of $951,431.82
- If awarded in full, the 10 percent local match would be $95,143.18 and will come from existing funding available for equipment.
Action B-2017 Assistance to Firefighters Regional Grant
§ The 2017 Assistance to Firefighters regional grant program allows fire and emergency medical service departments to apply for grants for regional projects.
§ CFD will serve as the host applicant agency and will apply for a regional grant to enhance the coverage and resiliency of radio communications through the purchase of new digital equipment.
§ Participating jurisdictions currently include: Charlotte, Gastonia, Mooresville, Kannapolis as well as Union and Cabarrus Counties.
§ The regional grant would be 85 percent federal share and 15 percent local match.
- The application will request a federal award of $3.45 million
- If awarded in full, the 15 percent match would be $517,500 and will come from existing funding for regional radio system enhancements along with proportional support from the participating jurisdictions.
Fiscal Note
Funding: 2017 Assistance to Firefighters Grant, General Community Investment Plan, and Funding from Participating Jurisdictions