[Msfdanews] FW: Federal funding available for training rural firefighters (UNCLASSIFIED)

Fri May 16 15:05:49 MDT 2008

Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED 
Caveats: NONE

Please review the information below about some help for your department.

-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Finger [mailto:DFinger at nvfc.org] 
Sent: Friday, May 16, 2008 3:27 PM
To: Dave Finger
Subject: Federal funding available for training rural firefighters
Importance: High

All,

The Department of Transportation (DoT) has a Hazardous Materials Emergency
Preparedness (HMEP) Grant program and this year, DoT Secretary Mary Peters
has called for a Rural Safety Initiative (RSI) to try to direct more funding
to rural areas.  This is particularly important now that Hazmat Operations
training is part of NFPA 1001, which means it will most likely be included as
part of the basic training curriculum offered and in some cases required by
in your states.

The process for obtaining training through this grant program is a little
different from programs like AFG and SAFER.  Each state has a coordinator who
applies to DoT for funding.  These applications are due on July 15 and
funding is awarded on September 30.  It is important that the volunteer fire
service contact the coordinator in each state to let them know what your
hazmat training needs are so that they can be included in the application
that goes to DoT.  Because of the RSI, states are being directed to push more
resources to rural areas.  However, state coordinators need to hear from the
volunteer fire service so that they know what to include in their
applications.  Keep in mind that while the application deadline for state
coordinators is July 15 they are probably putting those applications together
as we speak so the sooner that you make contact the better.

We've been in contact with Charles Rogoff, who coordinates the HMEP grants
for DoT.  He urged us to ask you to make contact with your state coordinators
as soon as possible and to encourage others to do the same.  One of the main
reasons that Secretary Peters issued the RSI was based on the fact that there
is a significant unmet need in rural areas.  It is incumbent upon us (the
volunteer fire service) to demonstrate that need by communicating to the
state coordinators.

Attached is the announcement that appeared in the Federal Register regarding
the HMEP grants.  It provides a lot of detail about the intention of the
program and how it works.  I would encourage you to read it before contacting
your state coordinator.  Below are some links that provide additional
information about HMEP and RSI.

Also attached is contact information for your state coordinator.  Charles
suggested that you call them directly, at least initially, and then submit
something in writing if they ask you to.  We are in the process of posting
this on the NVFC website but for now just refer to the attachment.  If you
have trouble reaching your state contact or have any other questions please
let me know. 

http://hazmat.dot.gov/training/state/hmep/hmep.htm

http://www.dot.gov/affairs/ruralsafety/ruralsafetyinitiativeplan.htm

Dave

We've moved...please note our new address:

Dave Finger, Director of Government Relations

National Volunteer Fire Council         

7852 Walker Drive, Suite 450

Greenbelt, MD 20770

202 887-5700, ext. 12

202 887-5291 Fax

1-888-ASK-NVFC (275-6832)

www.nvfc.org

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    Classification:  UNCLASSIFIED 
Caveats: NONE

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