K-4 - Matching Grant Funds for DNR Grant - Fire Department

June 2023 TO: FIRE PROTECTION AGENCIES IN IOWA RE: Volunteer Fire Assistance Program - Grant Rules Iowa expects to receive our Fiscal Year 2023 Grant funds for the Volunteer Fire Assistance Program as authorized by the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978. The main features of the program are: 1. Key objectives are saving lives and protecting property in rural areas. 2. Volunteer Fire Assistance Program will pay 50 percent of the cost (not to exceed a maximum of $4500), with the local agencies also paying 50 percent. Local fire department funds must be available when the application is made. Local match funds may not be from a federal funding source. 3. Applications Deadline: October 16, 2023. 4. Allocated funds may only be used for equipment identified in the application form. Special requests can be made (buildings and vehicles are not eligible) but will require a more detailed description of the request and need. 5. NO INDIVIDUAL ITEM CAN BE $5,000 OR MORE. Call if you have questions. 6. Priority will be given to: (1) applicants who have submitted Iowa Wildland Fire Reports during 2022 & 2023, (2) acres of state land protected, (3) communities which have not received funds under this program in the previous funding period, (4) areas of greatest need, (5) departments who utilize Wildland PPE and who have strong wildland fire suppression requests. 7. The fire department must be registered with the State Fire Marshal's office and must file all incident reports in a timely manner. 8. Only communities under 10,000 population qualify. 9. All applications must be signed by the Fire Chief and the head of the local government agency or the financial manager for the department (i.e., mayor, chairperson of the township trustees, chairperson of the benefited fire district or fire agency, or the financial officer). 10. All applications must submit a completed IRS Form W-9 confirming their Federal Tax ID # (this may belong to the fire department or the city) and they must provide their DUNS#. 11. No applications for less than $150 ($75 matching funds) will be approved. 12. Expenditures made between October 1, 2022, and June 30, 2024, will qualify. Projects must be completed by June 30, 2024. All requests for reimbursement must be submitted and postmarked by July 31, 2024. All applications for funds must be made on the enclosed form titled USFS Federal Financial Assistance - Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Application 2023.