Lincoln County Emergency Management Training and Operations Supervisor Ken Desmond has just returned from a U.S. Homeland Security-sponsored training session on grant writing in Washington, D.C.
During the Lincoln County Commissioners meeting of Sept. 4, Desmond talked about the potential grants to benefit the county and expand firefighter recruitment.
Desmond learned during the grant-writing workshops, “The narrative portion is the key to getting grants.”
Joined in D.C., by only one other Maine EMA cohort from Wells, Desmond said, a grant filed by the six New England states could potentially provide funding for costs related to increased recruitment and retention for 50 firefighters in Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and Knox counties, as well as throughout Maine, in the fiscal years 2013 and 2014.
He said Maine’s portion of the $9.4 million dollar Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant, could be approximately $1.4 million.
The $9.4 million two-year SAFER grant, if awarded, would pay for the physicals, training, and turnout gear (including air packs) for 200 Maine firefighters in the fiscal years 2013 and 2014, Desmond said.
A firefighter’s standard equipment costs $2500 per man, plus approximately $4000 for each air-pack.
Lincoln, Sagadahoc, and Knox counties together make up one of four satellite training areas in Maine, and would receive enough funding for 25 firefighters for each year of the program.
A lot of money and effort goes into the training of new firefighters, said Desmond. The recruits who will receive the benefits of this program will be required to agree to a minimum period of employment with their department, a guideline that has not yet been firmly established.
Having equipment and their Firefighter 1 and 2 trainings (costing $1200) through the Maine Fire Institute in Brunswick covered by the grant, make it appealing to new recruits, said Desmond, and ensuring retention is a big concern.
The grant requires that there be a single recipient of the funds, and the parties involved selected New Hampshire to receive and disburse the funds. “New Hampshire has the capabilities to do that,” said Desmond.
At the Maine State Federation of Fire Fighters’ 2012 convention (Sept. 7-9) in Freeport, Desmond will outline the grant and what could potentially come of it. The final details of the grant will not become clear until award notifications in October.
