The FY25 Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant Program aims to provide funding for fire departments across the Commonwealth to purchase essential firefighter safety equipment. The program is designed to enhance the safety and operational capabilities of fire departments by ensuring they have the necessary personal protective equipment that complies with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards. The total anticipated funding available for this program is $5 million, which will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible applicants.
Eligible applicants include fire departments from every city, town, fire district, and eligible state authority within the Commonwealth. Each department can apply for funding based on the population they serve, with maximum award amounts ranging from $10,500 for departments serving populations of 0-2,499 to $50,000 for those serving populations of 100,000 or more. The application period opens on September 19, 2024, and closes on October 17, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. All applications must be submitted electronically, and departments are required to attend a mandatory application period webinar.