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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) opened the FY 2008 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER ) grant application period at 8:00 am EDT on May 27. Applications will be accepted through 5:00 pm on June 27. SAFER grants provide funding to fire departments to hire career firefighters and to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.

SAFER was funded at $190 million for FY 2008. Ten percent of the funds appropriated are designated by law to be distributed to volunteer and combination fire departments to fund retention and recruitment activities. An additional ten percent is available for volunteer and combination departments to hire career firefighters.

Departments can use retention and recruitment funds in a number of ways, including marketing campaigns to attract new members, establishing a junior firefighter program, purchasing insurance packages and/or physical examinations, reimbursing members for participating in operational activities, tuition assistance, or length of service awards. Applicants must demonstrate the link between the activities they are requesting funds for and their identified recruitment and/or retention problems or issues.

The FY 2008 SAFER program guidance is available online. The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) participates in annual stakeholder meetings to provide formal input to the SAFER grant criteria development process. The NVFC also works closely with Congress, advocating for SAFER to be funded at its authorized level and ensuring that a portion of those funds are made available to help meet the staffing needs of volunteer departments.