SAFER Grant Questions

[rickybobby2453]

Hey All,

I'm within the top ten on a hiring list for a dept. that just got a $1.2M safer grant. I read about these grants on the SAFER website and it seems like there are very clear rules. This dept. just hired 12 and they are online as of a few weeks. The grant was awarded after the recruits were hired and in academy.

Is there any circumstance that FEMA would allow the department to retroactively apply the money to the recently hired FF's or would they have to use it for future hires or lose the grant?? I'm worried that this is what is going to happen because I think they are fully staffed as of now but am not sure. I don't want to bug HR.

Any insight would help.

Thanks.

[BFDCP]

It really depends on the department. SAFER Grants can now be used to rehire personnel who may have been laid off but I would think they would have hired those people back before hiring a new academy class. I would inquire as to whether or not the fire department actually accepted the grant. Alot of jurisdictions are turning the grants down because of the restrictions on them. An example is, you cannot lay off any firefighters for the term of the grant. Also some jurisdictions are unsure whether they can afford to pay for the new personnel once the funding stops.
I would assume that if the department accepts the grant, it will be for new people and new positions to improve service somehow. I would call HR.

[rickybobby2453]

This dept. hasn't laid anyone off so I know that is not in play. I don't know what their level of staffing is but I think a grant for $1.2 would probably be enough to hire 12. I'd be curious if they take the entire grant or just what is needed to get to full staffing. Even if they don't make it to my number I also read that they had to hire a FF for each one that retires over the period of performance and maintenance period, but the dept. can get a waiver for that if they show economic hardship. Are those readily available or are they pretty hard to get? Thanks.

[onebugle]

Hey All,

I'm within the top ten on a hiring list for a dept. that just got a $1.2M safer grant. I read about these grants on the SAFER website and it seems like there are very clear rules. This dept. just hired 12 and they are online as of a few weeks. The grant was awarded after the recruits were hired and in academy.

Is there any circumstance that FEMA would allow the department to retroactively apply the money to the recently hired FF's or would they have to use it for future hires or lose the grant?? I'm worried that this is what is going to happen because I think they are fully staffed as of now but am not sure. I don't want to bug HR.

Any insight would help.

Thanks.

They cannot use the funds to retroactively fund the recent hires. From the SAFER Program Guidance:

Only firefighters hired after the award date will be considered “new hires” and may be funded by a SAFER Grant.

[OHFirestopper]

A lot of times the city will know they are getting the grant and start the hiring process. Also they know they're getting the grant before it's announced. So they probably were awarded the grant and hired those people the day after.

[OHFirestopper]

Also if they can afford to pay for 12 new hires how do they justify a 1.2 million dollar grant? lol I could be completely wrong, just a thought.

[schmidthouse7]

They may be able to afford 12 but need a 100.