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Number 7, March 2008

How to Fund Your Fire and Water Projects
You still have time.

“Fire Grants” for Operations, Vehicles, and Equipment

Even though the spring 2008 deadline approaches, it’s not too late for your Fire Department and non-affiliated Emergency Medical Service to secure funds to improve operations or to acquire vehicles and equipment through the Federal Emergency Management Association’s (FEMA) Assistance To Firefighters Grant Program.

Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH®) makes the process easy for you. Our funding experts will meet with you to gather information to complete the application such as department history, demographics, and response data. Then, we will initiate the grant application for your Fire Chief to approve, and we even submit the final application. Since the program’s inception, SEH helped several Midwest communities secure approximately $700,000 in fire-fighting funds.

Grant Conditions: Fire departments serving populations of more than 50,000 must provide non-federal matching funds of up to 30 percent of the total project cost. Populations of 50,000 or less will match 10 percent of the total project cost, and populations of 20,000 or less will match 5 percent.

Protecting and Improving Your Drinking Water
SEH has secured more than $5 million for our clients’ water projects through the Drinking Water Revolving Fund (DWRF) below-marketrate loans for public water system improvements. With interest rates ranging between 2 percent and 3.5 percent, these funds provide an attractive opportunity for communities in financial need to complete projects that protect public health and achieve or maintain compliance with drinking water regulations. Typical projects include well upgrade and replacement, treatment plants, water towers, and distribution systems. Projects have also included consolidating water systems, water meters, computerized monitoring and control systems, and extending public water services to properties with contaminated private wells.

Take Advantage of These Funds

Eligible Uses:

• Operations and Safety
• Training
• Equipment
• Personal protective equipment
• Wellness and fitness activities
• Modifications to stations and facilities
  

Vehicles

Firefighting Vehicles —pumper, brush, tanker, quint, HazMat, rescue, light/air,
aerial, fire boat, foam truck, ARFFV, rehab, command

EMS Vehicles—ambulance, first response
units, special operations vehicles, helicopters/airplanes, command vehicles

FEMA Deadline:
Spring 2008
(date to be determined)
DWRF Deadline:
May 2, 2008

If interested in pursuing these financing opportunities for your city, please contact us:

Northern Minnesota: Dick Grabko, 218.322.4507

Northeastern Minnesota: Mike Larson, 218.290.9240

Central Minnesota: Heidi Peper, 320.229.4386

Southern Minnesota: Ron Seymour, 651.388.0903