American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant (ARPFFG)

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs' (DCA) Division of Local Government Services (DLGS) is administering the American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant Program, which will help local and regional fire departments in New Jersey provide first responders with proper protective and cleaning equipment. Ensuring that firefighters are properly protected against the strain of emergency fire requests as well as having proper virus protection is vital in today’s world.

All local and regional fire departments in New Jersey are eligible.

Fire departments will use the grant funding to help cover costs associated with the purchases of:

• Protective items (turnout clothing ensembles, pants, helmets, hoods, gloves, footwear, etc.);
• Cleaning and advanced cleaning equipment;
• Oxygen equipment;
• Personal protective equipment (PPE); and
• Other fire and/or virus protection equipment as determined to be appropriate by DCA's Division of Local Government Services (DLGS).

Grant applications will be reviewed and graded based on the following criteria:

• Describe, in detail, the intended use of grant funding.
• List the key personnel and/or outside consultant that will be managing the grant funds and purchase of equipment.
• Submit a governing body resolution acknowledging and approving any grant application and the proposed plan to use funds for the purchase of approved items.
• Number of fire calls for calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023.* (As reported in the NFIRS – if used).
• Number of “Active” firefighters for calendar years 2021, 2022 and 2023. **Note: For volunteer fire companies, do not include “Exempt” members.
• Population Served.
• Evidence of serving underserved populations, and/or unmet firefighting needs.
• Local Match (if no local match, describe why). Please note:  Local match is not required but is used in the application scoring process.

The American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grants are reimbursement-based. There is no advance payment or drawdown of grant funds. Eligible costs are reimbursed to the fire department when it submits evidence of payment of qualifying expenses to DCA (purchase orders, invoices and front and back of canceled checks must be submitted via “Expense Report” in SAGE to receive any reimbursement.) Progress reports (Word document containing an update on where the grantee is at within the project/purchasing for the specifically listed time period) are required to be submitted before any disbursement is reviewed and approved.

Please contact ARPFFG@dca.nj.gov with any questions.

FY 2024 ARPFFG Grant Guidelines

NJDCA- SAGE Agency User Manual

SAGE Application Instructions

Sample Resolution

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