Posted: 1/25/2011 7:58:41 AM EDT
| I'm curious how many of you have applied for grants. I'm trying to find some money for our swat team to help fund for additional items, but have never applied for any type of LE grants. Whats the process and where would I start looking. |
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http://www.cops.usdoj.gov/
http://www.dhs.gov/xopnbiz/ (check FEMA link) The COPS grant will pay for new hires. DHS and FEMA tend to focus more on training and education...most equipment funding for these two are for firefighters. First thing first: Read and Research the funding opportunity/s. Determine their grant cycle (application release to public, due date, proposed award date). Talk with your superiors and have a sit down to determine what is needed. Speak with your municipality about who will make the grant match in case of award. Grants are very rarely 100% funded, most of the LEO/Firefighter grants are between 50% and 95% funded with the applicant having to supply the balance (50% to 5%) Grants are "need based" not "want based". You may want an APC, but you will have to document repeat occurences where this was needed. Your biggest challenge is to prevent the accumulation of what is essentially a Christmas wish list. If you're looking for weapons, hang it up it ain't going to happen. Vehicles, response gear, training are several that get funded most often. Community interaction/Public programs are another that get funded frequently. |
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Quoted:
The APC and training is what I am looking for the most. And I can definently show where they were needed and we didn't have them. An APC is going to be a longshot, but it's possible. Your service area will have to be densely populated so your cost/benefit isn't so lopsided. If you work a metropolitan area you'll have a higher chance of success. Training is generally much easier to get funded. When you get to digging I think you'll be surprised at how few grant opportunities there are for LE. Most of them I write, I "piggyback" an LE request on top of a Firefighter request (let the agencies work out ownership later). Remember: Read and Research. Prioritize your needs. This isn't the time for "wants". Get approval all the way up the chain, Mayors don't like surprises. You'll want spec sheets on everything you hope to acquire. You do this to ensure that your grant request amount is realistic and for later open bid/acquisition purposes (assuming award). Most grants are the reimbursable type. Meaning 1) you'll have to pony up the money up front OR 2) your winning bidder/vendor will have to be aware that there will be a 30-60 day wait between invoice submission and payment (assuming the supplier/vendor is big enough, they can usually wait it out). If you are awarded, do not spend money or buy anything until you receive a "NOTICE TO PROCEED" from the feds.. If you do not follow this advice, they can and will pull your funding leaving you stuck with the bill. |
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Best of luck. When we were still trying to get the TEMS unit up and running we asked about trying for grants to send the FF/Medics through academy and purchase equipment (even though the academy is reimbursed for PT and FT LEO's in IL, it's only tuition for PT'ers). Unfortunately we were the b*stard stepchillun and neither chief would approve applying... just as in the end neither chief would actually present the authorization ordinance recognizing TEMS and listing us as PT LEO's to the Council - even though it had been drafted by our Corporation Counsel. Sorry for the hijack. |