If you know of a program to help Arkansas Firefighters, and it is not listed below, please let us know about it! Just call our toll-free phone number (1-888-787-2527) or email us at ruralar@arkansas.gov.

Department of Rural Services

• Block Grant Program - Eligible to communities of less than 3,000 in population with at least a 51% Low to Moderate income range. Match ratio 9:1 or match 10% of total project cost. Eligible projects include renovation or new construction of community centers, fire station buildings, or multi-purpose centers, or the purchase of fire trucks. Visit www.arkansas.gov/drs/drsgrants.html for an application or contact Lindsey Jester at 1-888-787-2527.
  
  
• Fire Protection Grant - Funds projects for communities with population less than 3,000. Match ratio is 50/50. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, construction or renovation of community centers, baseball/softball fields, walking tracks, park and playground equipment, pavilions and community beautification projects. Visit www.arkansas.gov/drs/drsgrants.html for an application or contact Morgan Timmerman at 1-888-787-2527.

Arkansas Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils
Grants for water supply and delivery items, communication and ISO compliant equipment.

Provides free mailing service to send out notices of dues. They will cover the cost of printing statements.

Contact Charles Gangluff at 501-868-8483.

Arkansas Department of Health
Funding available for certain fire-related items. Contact Bettie Watts at (501) 661-2718.

Arkansas Forestry Commission
Up to $15,000 per applicant interest-free loans for fire trucks and equipment.

Volunteer Fire Assistance - 50/50 matching grants to volunteer fire departments with funds used to buy tools, small equipment, and safety gear. Up to $1,000.

Provides Federal Excess equipment and vehicles free of charge to fire departments on a 50 year no cost lease based upon request forms.

50/50 matching grants to communities for community forestry planning, tree planting, and tree maintenance. The community match is in-kind. Up to $20,000.

Provides 4-hour Wildland Fire Suppression Training Course to firemen statewide.

Contact Robert Summerville at 501-679-3183 or visit www.forestry.state.ar.us/. Click on ‘Rural Fire Protection’ and then ‘Agencies that Provide Assistance’.

Arkansas Department of Emergency Management

• Arkansas Hazard Mitigation Program – Helps fund permanent repair solutions to sites that have had repetitive damage from natural causes such as flooding, wind or earthquakes. Cap on projects - $150,000.00 - 50% state - 50% local. Contact Bonnie Arnold, State Grant Coordinator.
• State Homeland Security Grant Program - designed to address the Homeland Security and response capabilities in Arkansas by providing specific equipment and training to first responders and state agencies based on the needs and vulnerabilities of the state. Contact Kathy Hedrick, Domestic Preparedness Program Manager.
• Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) - reimburses certain eligible expenses, under program guidelines, to support state and local emergency management costs. Requires 50% non-federal match. Contact John Smith, Management Services Division Manager.
• Act 833 money - Act 833 funds are to be used for training, fire fighting equipment, and initial capital construction or improvements of fire departments. Contact Jimmy Woods ADEM Fire Services Coordinator.

ADEM’s phone number is 501-683-6700, and their website is www.adem.arkansas.gov

USDA Rural Development

• Community Programs - Grant funds and loans for essential public community facilities in rural areas. These facilities include fire and rescue stations.

Contact Stephen Lagasse at (501) 301-3267 or visit www.rurdev.usda.gov/ar//.

Fireman’s Fund Heritage Program
Awards grants to fund programs and equipment to fire departments of all sizes across the country. Contact (866)440-8716, or email heritage@ffic.com.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

• Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants – Provides grants to help pay the salaries of newly hired firefighters as well as to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.
• Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) – Provides grants to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.
• Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S) - Support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. Examples of the types of projects supported by FP&S include fire prevention and public safety education campaigns, juvenile firesetter interventions, media campaigns, and arson prevention and awareness programs.

Information on each of these programs is located at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/. You can also email firegrants@dhs.gov or call 1-866-274-0960.

State of Arkansas Federal Surplus Property
Provides at a small cost Federal Surplus vehicles and equipment including trucks, desks, protective equipment, hose, generators, compressors, chairs, etc., to fire departments or other government entities. Visit http://dwe.arkansas.gov/FSP.htm or contact Contact James H. Smith at 501-835-3111.

Arkansas Fire Training Academy in Camden, Arkansas
Provides training for fire fighters at Camden and other regional sites. Training is free of cost. They are also responsible for the Arkansas Fire Incident Reporting System.

Contact Mike Brackin at (870) 574-1521, email mbrackin@sautech.edu.

Arkansas State Fire Prevention Commission

The AFPC serves as a voice for current fire prevention issues and as an advisory body to others involved in fire and life safety in Arkansas. Information on their grants can be found at http://www.arfireprevention.org/Pages/Grants.html.