Avagene Moore: Welcome to the EIIP Virtual Classroom! Today's discussion is on the new Fire Grant Program. This is an opportunity to get advance information on how to participate in this exciting new program. Avagene Moore: For any newcomers, when you see a blue link, you can click on it and it will load in your browser window. After you are done viewing, bring your chat window back to the top. Avagene Moore: For example, the Congressional Fire Service Institute (CFSI) URL is http://www.cfsi.org/ - check it out after the session. Avagene Moore: After the first link, the browser window may not come to the top automatically, so you will need to bring it forward. Avagene Moore: We will start with formal remarks by our guest speaker and follow with a Q&A session for your questions and comments. Right before we begin the Q&A portion we will review the procedure. Avagene Moore: Please do NOT send direct messages to the speaker or moderator as it makes it difficult for us to follow the discussion. Avagene Moore: Background information for this session may be found at http://www.emforum.org/vclass/010207.htm . Avagene Moore: After our session today, please take the time to review our speaker's bio and other information referenced there. Avagene Moore: Many of you online today know our special guest, Steve Austin. For those who don't, Steve is a long-time friend and supporter of the EIIP in his role as Fire Service Advisor to the Congressional Fire Service Institute (CFSI). CFSI is one of the Founding Partners of the EIIP. Avagene Moore: Steve is a 30-year veteran of the State Farm Insurance Companies. He advises State Farm on matters impacting the Fire and Emergency Services. He is involved in national fire service issues as the Director of Governmental Relations for the International Association of Arson Investigators. Avagene Moore: He is also active in the NFPA, International Association of Fire Chiefs and the CFSI among others. Avagene Moore: Please help me welcome Steve Austin as he shares his insight of the Fire Grant Program. I now turn the floor to you, Steve. Steve Austin: Hello everyone, it is good to be back at the EIIP Virtual Forum. Steve Austin: For those of you that do not know me, I am Steve Austin a long time member of the fire service. Steve Austin: I spend a good deal of time involved in federal fire service issues. Steve Austin: I am the Director of Governmental Relations for the International Association of Arson Investigators. Steve Austin: I also serve as the Fire Service Advisor to the Congressional Fire Services Institute. Steve Austin: I was also honored to Chair FEMA Director James Lee Witt's Blue Ribbon Panel. Steve Austin: We reviewed the US Fire Administration and made recommendations for meaningful change. Steve Austin: The last time I was here I spoke about the difficulty in passing legislation to create a grant program for the fire service. Steve Austin: Now I am pleased to tell you that we have a program and it is funded! Steve Austin: My purpose today is to get folks ready to enter the competitive grant process. Steve Austin: But first it is important to review why we were successful in getting the program and having it funded. Steve Austin: In a word "cooperation". Finally the fire service was able to unite. Steve Austin: We stayed united and convinced both the House and Senate and the White House that this was the right thing to do. Steve Austin: It sounds easy but those of you that have been observers of the fire service know what a difficult victory it was. Steve Austin: Otto Von Bismark, the German Statesman once said "No one should see sausages or laws being made." After going through this process I know what a perceptive man he was, this wasn't pretty. Steve Austin: Without the Congressional Fire Services Caucus and Congressional Fire Service Institute it would not have happened. Steve Austin: It proves we can work together. Now on to the program. Steve Austin: We have authorizing language that requires FEMA to administer a grant program primarily for local fire departments. Steve Austin: There are no middlemen. The money will be paid direct from the Treasury to the fire department. No state agency is involved. Steve Austin: This year $100 million was provided by Congress to fund the program and most of the money will be used to provide these direct grants to fire departments. Steve Austin: While the Bill itself provides for 13 possible types of grants it is impossible to get the work done to get all this money out the door by September 30, the end of the Federal Fiscal year. Steve Austin: After two intense meetings with USFA/FEMA leadership and staff, the national fire service organizations and the government identified six categories for the first year. They include... Steve Austin: Training... Steve Austin: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)... Steve Austin: Wellness and fitness programs... Steve Austin: Fire fighting equipment, including communications gear... Steve Austin: Firefighting apparatus, and .... Steve Austin: Fire Prevention Programs. Steve Austin: A fire department may apply for a grant in any two categories. Steve Austin: General rules as specified in the legislation require that the grants be evenly administered between ... Steve Austin: career and Volunteer, based on the NFPA Published Fire Department abstract, 43% to full career fire department, 57% to volunteer and combination departments. Steve Austin: A distribution between rural, suburban and urban departments is required. Steve Austin: All grants are based on need, it is important that the money goes to who needs it the most. Steve Austin: Misuse or the perception that this is a "pork barrel" project could very well endanger future appropriations. In essence this is a fair program. Steve Austin: A detailed description of the program and rules will appear later this month in the Federal Registry. All the details will be spelled out then. Steve Austin: There are some things that departments can do now to get ready. Steve Austin: First, decide how this grant could best serve your community. Steve Austin: Think in terms of what the program will cost, there is a $750K cap on each grant. Steve Austin: Get your ducks in a row now. Make your contacts, do your costing so you can be ready when the application period opens in mid-spring probably around May 1. Steve Austin: You won't need to process a lot of paper, the USFA is putting the application on line. Steve Austin: There will be a Website to help you and the application is being designed to be as easy as possible. Steve Austin: There won't be a ton of paper work, and while you can submit your application on paper it is my opinion that on line is much, much better. Paper will only slow down the process. Steve Austin: If departments don't have access to a computer take the time now to get or make arrangements to use someone else's, perhaps some of the members of the Forum might want to make their systems available to the departments? Steve Austin: It should be the goal of leadership to get the message about these important grants to every corner of the country. No fire department should be left out. Steve Austin: This first year there will probably be only a 1500 or so grants awarded to reach the $100M mark. That doesn't seem like many, but in the very short time we have to get the money out the door and on the street, to award this many is a monumental task. Steve Austin: How we handle things will impact next year's money. Steve Austin: Some departments will be justifiably disappointed. Not everyone is going to get a grant in the first round. If we do our job right we can convince Congress to extend and re-fund this program so everyone will get a chance to receive a grant. Steve Austin: Well that's the program in a nutshell. Steve Austin: I'll be happy to answer some questions keeping in mind that the finalization of the program is still work in progress until the specifics are published in the Register. Steve Austin: All of us who worked on the guidelines agreed to promote the program but not to get into the nitty gritty details until EVERYONE gets to see the rules at the same time in the Federal Registry. Back to you Avagene. Avagene Moore: Thank you for the overview, Steve. I am sure the information conveyed will help those who are interested in applying for a grant. On behalf of the EIIP, Amy and I appreciate your time with us today. ... Fred May: ? Lisa Danner: When will applications be made available online Terry Lloyd: I am interested in the wellness and fitness programs. Are they start up or continuing Charles Werner: ? Steve Rauter: Can a mixed group (career & fulltime) of FD's apply for 1 grant? If so, how do you calculate the matching share; based on what population? Should they apply separately for the same project? $750 each or total for the group? Dave Donohue: The law that created the grant called for a $400 million program, any word on if they will ever appropriate the full amount? Judy Bisetti: Do we have to reimburse monies received? Avagene Moore: Please let me get info to everyone about Q&A. We can't answer everyone at once. Please wait. Avagene Moore: Audience, please enter a question mark (?) to indicate you wish to be recognized, go ahead and compose your comment or question, but wait for recognition before hitting the enter key or clicking on Send. Avagene Moore: With your cooperation, we will have an orderly, meaningful exchange. We now invite your questions/comments. Rick Tobin: ? Barry Andis: ? Steve Rauter: ? Avagene Moore: I will take your ? from this point on. Can't go back that far. Rick Tobin, you are first. Whenever you are ready. Dave Donohue: ? terry hill: ? Lloyd Colston: ? Charles Werner: ? Rick Tobin: Where can I find online a more detailed description of this process and program? Lisa Danner: ? Terry Lloyd: ? Bob Hopkins: ? Cynthia Leighton: ? Judy Bisetti: ? Steve Austin: USFA/FEMA Web Pages are the best place now. Soon there will be a special place on their site to access info. Avagene Moore: Barry Andis, next. Barry Andis: Will there be an online list or a published list of what the money can or cannot be spent on. Will there be a follow up to see that the money is spent? Steve Austin: Good question Barry... Yes it will all be on line, yes this is Federal $ and one should expect there will be oversight. Barry Andis: Thank you Dan Stowers: ? Avagene Moore: Steve Rauter, your question now. Steve Rauter: Can a mixed group (career & fulltime) of FD's apply for 1 grant? If so, how do you calculate the matching share; based on what population? Should they apply separately for the same project? $750 each or total for the group? Steve Austin: Probably, these are details that are being worked out now and I don't have that specific answer. I suspect you are thinking about something like a county wide radio system. Steve Rauter: This would be for regional dispatch project. Avagene Moore: Dave Donohue, your question, please. Dave Donohue: The original legislation called for funding of $400 million but only $100 million was funded. Are there any arrangements made to appropriate the other $300 million? Steve Rauter: This is an important planning process to know YOUR share. Please get back to us on that one. Steve Austin: Steve, this is something that you will want to ask USFA after rules are published. Steve Austin: Next years funding... Steve Austin: The fire service groups and all of you... Steve Austin: must give this full attention... Steve Austin: That is why we must get as many departments.... Steve Austin: as possible to apply this year... Steve Austin: We need to show Congress what this program... Steve Austin: Means to the fire service. Avagene Moore: Terry Hill, please. terry hill: What criteria will be used to determine "need"? Steve Austin: Again this will be in the final details... Steve Austin: Your fire departments certification that you have a need will go along way... terry hill: Can it be used for Haz-Mat or special rescue? Steve Austin: remember you will be asking for federal funds... Shawn Herron: ? doug staas: ? Steve Austin: We have suggested that we don't want fire departments to get bogged down in paper work. Avagene Moore: Robert Evancho, your question now. Robert Evancho: How will you notify all eligible fire companies? PA had a Grant program in 2000. It was very successful. Steve Austin: Robert, consider this part of the notification... Robert Evancho: Thank you. Steve Austin: All the fire service print media and the dot coms are assisting... Steve Rauter: ? Rodney Slaughter: ? Steve Austin: the USFA Web page is a good place to look... Steve Austin: We're counting on all of you to get the word out... Steve Austin: to paraphrase President Bush "no fire department should be left behind." Avagene Moore: Lloyd Colston, you are up next. Lloyd Colston: ? I am an Emergency Management Director. I feel I would not be able to write a fire service grant for an individual. Could the individual departments write grants for technology so more of them could benefit from the Internet and other resources? What should I do to help my fire departments, many of whom are rural and all-volunteer? Of course, I am sharing this with others in my county. I am assuming the IAEM list will be advised of the web site when it is published? Lloyd Colston: For those who will be looking, the USFA web page is http://www.usfa.fema.gov/ Steve Austin: Lloyd: we are working to make the grant... Steve Austin: as simple as possible... Steve Austin: so you departments won't need a grant writer to prepare... Barry Andis: Great! Steve Austin: On the Internet thing, a requirement for the grant... Isabel McCurdy: ? Steve Austin: is that a department report to NIFRS... Steve Austin: If they don't have the electronic capability to do that now... Steve Austin: they can use part of the money to get on line... Steve Austin: Remember the thrust of these grants however are toward firefighter... terry lloyd: ? Steve Austin: HEALTH and SAFETY issues. Gary Hawbaker: I know I'm out of turn but if you have a fairly large police department I'd suggest you ask them for help in the grant writing. They get grants just to get more grants. Avagene Moore: Lisa Danner is next, please. (Audience, keep your questions on the short side. You can only put so many characters in at one time.) Lisa Danner: How soon will the applications be available and what kind of time frame are we looking at for submittal and awarding of the grants? Steve Austin: Again all the details are not quite finished... Steve Austin: Applications will be available on line toward April... Steve Austin: The window is not large... Steve Austin: Probably only 30 days... Judy Bisetti: ? Steve Austin: Maybe the month of May... Steve Austin: We must have a strict timetable... Steve Austin: If not FEMA/USFA will never be able to get the $$ out the door. Avagene Moore: Terry Lloyd is next. (I didn't forget you Terry; we have a lot of questions today. Takes time. Hope to give everyone a chance to ask their question.) Avagene Moore: Terry, please input your question now. Amy Sebring: Terry is gone Ava. Avagene Moore: OK. Bob Hopkins. Bob Hopkins: Our question has already been addressed. Thank you Avagene. Thank you Steve. Avagene Moore: Thanks. Cynthia Leighton. Pat Kelly: ? Avagene Moore: Cynthia, do you have a question? Cynthia Leighton: Communications interoperability is a critical need for fire departments. Will communications be evaluated as a critical need? Steve Austin: Fire ground communications is an important part of scene safety... Steve Austin: many departments have interoperabilty problems... Steve Austin: a grant may help solve this problem and improve safety... Steve Austin: As far as having preference over other areas, I don't know. Avagene Moore: Judy Bisetti, your turn, please. terry lloyd: ? Judy Bisetti: Will the grants be direct funded or will we have to spend money and get reimbursed? Steve Austin: Good question Judy... Steve Austin: I don't have that answer... Steve Austin: We'll count on USFA for that. Avagene Moore: Dan Stowers, please. Dan Stowers: Already answered. Thank you both, very informative. Lloyd Colston: ? Avagene Moore: Shawn Herron, please. Shawn Herron: What about agencies that have what are considered fire duties, but aren't fire? (We do rescue only.) Debra Lynch: ? Steve Austin: Shawn, It is my understanding that these are for fire departments only. Avagene Moore: Doug Staas, please. Amy Sebring: ? Avagene Moore: Doug, do you have your question ready? doug staas: When we talk about equal distribution, does this mean that the combination dept that borders the volunteer dept will not be competitors. Will region/state/counties be a consideration in awarding funds. Thank you for your time today. Steve Austin: Doug, the law talks about urban, rural, suburban distribution... Steve Austin: as well as career/volunteer... Steve Austin: The grants are competitive... Steve Austin: How you would compete with a larger neighbor... Steve Austin: I just don't know... Steve Austin: I would be more concerned with... Steve Austin: having my department's application reflect... Steve Austin: a solution to a problem your own fire district... Steve Austin: is experiencing. Avagene Moore: Steve Rauter, your question, please. Steve Rauter: How can we get meeting minutes from your open meetings, such as the Emitsburg conference, so we know where you are coming from as far as matching funds, competition, need, NFPA standards, competitive scoring, etc.? Steve Austin: That is a question for the USFA... Steve Austin: I assume so... Steve Austin: This isn't a national security issue... Lloyd Colston: ? Steve Austin: I am confident all the rules will be published in the Federal Register... Steve Austin: and that the new grant office will be able... Steve Austin: to answer questions when they get up and running... Steve Austin: Remember USFA is charged with getting this money out the door... Steve Austin: and into the hands of the fire service... Steve Austin: I am convinced they are very sincere in seeing this is accomplished. Avagene Moore: Rodney Slaughter, please. Rodney Slaughter: Who will evaluate the landslide of proposals coming in, can you give a general overview of the evaluation criteria, and can state fire agencies apply? Fred May: ? Steve Austin: Can't talk about the evaluation criteria now... Steve Austin: The evaluators will be experts assembled from the fire service... Steve Austin: The major fire service organizations are assembling these panels now. Avagene Moore: Steve, can you stay with us a few more minutes to get through the questions we have. There are 7 or 8. Steve Austin: Sure. Avagene Moore: We are past the hour already. Thanks. Isabel. Isabel McCurdy: Is there any grant monies set aside for international programs? If not, partnerships an option? Steve Austin: Isabel, these are fire department grants... Steve Austin: they are focused to health and safety issues... Steve Austin: there are no set asides. terry hill: ? Avagene Moore: Lloyd Colston, do you have your question ready? Lloyd Colston: Will the $750K cap apply to each grant or each department? Steve Austin: Lloyd a department can apply in two categories... Steve Austin: My understanding is the $750K cap applies to a department... Steve Austin: Again that is a good question for USFA when they... Steve Austin: complete their plans. Avagene Moore: Debra, your question, please. Debra Lynch: 1500 grants possible this year. Even split 500/500/500 to rural/suburban/urban? Thanks for this opportunity. Lloyd Colston: Thank you for your time and answers. Steve Austin: Debra, Can't say for sure... Steve Austin: I don't think they will be able to get that close... Steve Austin: I know they will do everything possible to comply with the law. Avagene Moore: Amy, you are next, please. (No more new questions, please. We have 2 waiting.) Amy Sebring: Please note that USAF has a mailing list that they will use to pass along further information on this program when it is available. The link to subscribe is http://www.usfa.fema.gov/usfa/usfamail.htm and the link is also on today's background page. Steve, can folks write to you with further questions or would you suggest they wait for further announcements at this point? Steve Austin: Further announcements are better Amy... Steve Austin: Folks need to read the published program... Steve Austin: Then formulate questions... Steve Austin: Now is the time to develop department ideas and justifications. Avagene Moore: We lost Fred May so the final question is from Terry Hill. Terry, please. terry hill: What about the money for community organizations involved in fire safety? How do they apply? Thanks. Steve Austin: Terry, very good question... Steve Austin: Those grants are outside the fire department process we worked on... Steve Austin: They will be handled exclusively by USFA/FEMA... Steve Austin: Separate rules will be published by USFA. Avagene Moore: We are way over time .... Thank you so much for being with us today, Steve. Please stand by a moment while we take care of some announcements. Avagene Moore: A text transcript of today's session will be posted later this afternoon --- you can access from the Transcripts link on our homepage. A reformatted transcript in both html and in Word will be available by Friday or Monday for download. craigsharman: People can also sign up for the NVFC's Legislative E- mail Update Service for future information about this grant and other issues effecting the fire service at http://www.nvfc.org/updates.htm Avagene Moore: If you are not currently subscribed to get our program announcements, and would like to, please go to http://www.speccomm.com:81/guest/RemoteListSummary/EIIP Avagene Moore: Amy, will you please tell us about next week's session and our Pledgers? Amy Sebring: Thank you Ava and thank you Steve for an excellent job. A big welcome to all our first-timers and we invite you to come again! Amy Sebring: First, we have TWO new Honor Roll members that fulfilled 12 months of pledges during January. Drum roll please ....... Amy Sebring: Tim Murphy //bell and Don Hartley //bell !! Amy Sebring: For the complete list of Honor Roll members so far, and more information about pledging, please see http://www.emforum.org/eiip/pledge.htm Amy Sebring: Next week in the Virtual Library, we are planning a session with a representative from the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta. We are still working on setting that up, so stay tuned for further information. Amy Sebring: Back to you Ava. Avagene Moore: Thanks, Amy. Avagene Moore: Thanks to all our participants today. We will adjourn the session for now. Please help us thank Steve Austin for a fine presentation.