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By: @Kyle Packham

The Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) application period is expected to open in January 2024. More information will be forthcoming as definitive dates are set. The Criteria Development Panel has recommended major changes to the FY23 AFG program priorities. These changes will put an emphasis on PPE that is necessary to protect firefighter health and safety.

The primary goal of the AFG, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and non-affiliated emergency medical service organizations.

In anticipation of the 2023 AFG application period, below is a list of things that you can do now to start preparing for the upcoming FY23 AFG Application Period. 

• Verify your organization’s SAM.gov account is Active. 
• Ensure grant writing staff have accounts and appropriate permissions in FEMA GO. 
• Conduct a Risk Assessment to determine your greatest needs. Compare your needs to the priorities of the program once the FY23 funding notice is released to identify what you should request. 
• Poll vendors to start determining the costs of items you plan to request. 
• If requesting a vehicle, establish your committee and develop specifications. 
• Use the Application Checklist to gather information needed to complete the application. 
• Use the Self-Evaluation Sheets to start drafting the four scored sections of the application narrative. These documents provide the exact criteria that panelists will be looking for in your narrative at panel review. There is one for Operations and Safety and another for Vehicle applications. 
• Use the Narrative Development Guide to help identify ways that you can address the criteria outlined in the Self-Evaluation Sheets. 
• Write your narrative. It is easily pasted into the application once the application period opens. This will allow ample time for others to review what you’ve written and provide feedback.

Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. Contact your Regional Fire Program Representative with any questions.