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Assistance to Firefighters Grant application period for FY 2021 opens Nov. 8, NOFO now available

FEMA • Nov 08, 2021

Application Period Will Close on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. EST

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant application period for fiscal year (FY) 2021 will open on Monday, Nov. 8, 2021, at 8:00 a.m. EST and will close on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. EST.


The Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been posted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) AFG Application Guidance Materials page. Interested applicants can begin reviewing the FY 2021 NOFO now. For questions about the NOFO, contact the Fire Grants Help Desk at firegrants@fema.dhs.gov or via the toll-free number 1-866-274-0960. The Fire Grants Help Desk is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST.


Applicants interested in learning how to apply for funding under the AFG program can attend one or more virtual workshops in FEMA’s FY 21 AFG Application Development Workshop series. The Workshops are offered nearly every day, including weekends, during the application period. Workshops currently posted and open for registration run from Nov. 8 through Nov. 24. Each Workshop is one or two hours in length.


Workshops focus on AFG program application areas, and are grouped as follows:

  • The “full workshop,” covers all application types and activities.
  • Narrative development.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other equipment.
  • Vehicle acquisition.
  • Wellness and fitness, modifications to facilities, and training activities.


You can register for any of these workshops via FEMA’s AFG Programs Workshops page.


The first step in applying for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant is to ensure the applying entity is registered and active in the System for Award Management (SAM) with current information. To register, or validate your SAM information, please visit SAM.gov. For assistance with your SAM account, help is available from the Federal Service Desk (FSD) at the FSD’s website or by calling toll-free at (866) 606-8220 between Monday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST.


(Source: FEMA)


Large black and white trailer used for emergency management

Regional Exercise to Test Interoperability Communications Among First Responders in East Texas

By East Texas Council of Governments • 30 Apr, 2024
Texas first responders are gearing up for a communication training that will address communications interoperability during emergencies. Coordinated by the East Texas Council of Governments and the Texas Department of Public Safety – Texas Division of Emergency Management, this workshop marks a collaborative effort to bolster emergency communication systems and emphasize the importance of seamless communications in crisis situations. Over three days, from May 17th to May 19th, participants from various sectors will engage in radio communication tests, workshops on technological advancements, and discussion on the future of emergency communications. The exercise will kick off at the Tyler Junior College West Campus before transitioning to operational platforms for real-world testing. Interested participants are encouraged to register for the event at www.preparingtexas.org and search for “Regional Communications” in the main search bar to join the collective effort to enhance public safety communication across Texas and the East Texas region.
female dispatcher looking at 911 address map

ETCOG Adds Cherokee County to 911 Addressing Program

By East Texas Council of Governments • 03 Jan, 2024
The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) has extended its 9-1-1 addressing program to Cherokee County, enhancing emergency response capabilities for the region.
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