Michigan Volunteer Fire Assistance

To assist fire departments in acquiring fire fighting equipment for local communities.

Criteria

The number of fire departments involved; number of communities served; population of area served; number of formal, written, nonpay mutual aid agreements; annual budget; type of organization (paid or volunteer); current participation in FHA Community Facilities Loan; currently under a commercial loan; unusual fire hazards; type of water supply; and insurance classification.

Eligibility:

Fire departments in rural communities with populations of 10,000 or less and that have publicly-owned forested land within protection area.

Application Process:

1. Local fire department makes application to Division's Management Unit Office. Applications are mailed to fire departments during the application period.
2. Management Unit prioritizes applications within unit and forwards to Division.
3. Division office prioritizes applications Statewide and awards grants.
4. Fire department purchases equipment and sends documentation to Division.
5. Division pays 50 percent of the cost, up to allocation amount.

Deadline(s):

Applications by June of each year; project completion by August 1 of the following year.

Timeline(s):

Grantees are notified of a grant award by November 15

Dollar Amount(s) Available:

No minimum or maximum amount.

Source(s) of Funds:

U.S.Department of Agriculture - Forest Service.

Authority:

Cooperative Forest Assistance Act of 1978, P. L. 95-313.

Contact(s):

Forest Resources Division, Jack Schultz 517-373-1218 schultzc1@michigan.gov.

Approximately $250,000 available each fiscal year.