Nationwide First Responder Grants

03/09/2026

Yet another happy FY24 AFG vehicle acquisition winner!

Sometime before September of 2027 the "new" Ladder 501 will be in service to protect Hicksville and other areas in Northwest Ohio and Northeast Indiana.

The Hicksville Fire Department is pleased to announce that we have placed an order for a new quint fire truck. This apparatus will replace two of our older trucks, Tower 501 and Engine 503. Our new truck will be a Sutphen SL 100, featuring a 100 ft aerial ladder, a 2000 GPM pump, and a 600-gallon water tank.

A special thank you to our village council for their collaboration in ordering this truck, and to FEMA for the grant money. We also extend our gratitude to all the vendors who provided us with quotes. And to Nationwide first responder Grants Micky Smith for putting this together for us.

We are excited to receive this truck at the end of September 2027 and look forward to continuing to provide outstanding service to our village. Be safe and have a great weekend.

Picture is a example.

03/02/2026

Yet, another happy FY2024 AFG winning client!

We were recently awarded nearly $65,000 through the FEMA AFG grant. This allows us to buy 15 sets of structural firefighting gear. Thank you to Nationwide First Responder Grants and A/C Price for landing multiple grants every year and saving us thousands!

03/02/2026

Another happy FY2024 client!

The Union Township Fire Department was recently awarded a $252,000 grant to purchase new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). These SCBAs were extremely needed, as much of our existing equipment had reached the end of its service life. This grant allows us to replace outdated gear with modern, reliable equipment that will better protect our firefighters while operating in immediately dangerous to life and health environments.

These new SCBAs will serve our department and community for many years to come, improving firefighter safety, operational efficiency, and our ability to provide the highest level of service when it matters most. Investments like this directly impact not only our responders, but every resident we are sworn to protect.

By obtaining grants like this one, the Union Township Fire Department is able to responsibly invest in critical safety equipment while minimizing the financial burden on our community. This funding ensures our firefighters have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively, while remaining good stewards of taxpayer dollars.

We owe a special thank you to Nationwide First Responder Grants for their expertise and dedication in helping secure this funding. We are also incredibly grateful for the continued support of the Union Township Trustees, Chief Timothy Grimm, and Fiscal Officer Cheryl Dubois, whose commitment to the safety of our firefighters and community makes opportunities like this possible.

This grant is a powerful example of what can be accomplished through teamwork, leadership, and a shared commitment to public safety.

02/09/2026

*****BIG AFG ANNOUNCEMENT COMING LATER TODAY*****

🚨 IF You're a vendor, you may want to pay VERY close attention!

I'm unsure yet, but I may include a livestream.

02/07/2026

🚨Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at the 2026 OTA Winter Conference & Trade Show! We truly enjoyed meeting so many dedicated township leaders and partners, sharing ideas, and talking about how we can support your communities.

🚨We’re grateful for the opportunity to connect with both new and returning clients, and we look forward to continuing, and building strong partnerships in the year ahead. If we didn’t get a chance to connect in person, we’d still love to hear from you.

🚨Thanks again for making this year’s conference a great one. We’re excited about what’s ahead!

02/04/2026

🚨 Ohio Township Officials & Public Safety Leaders- be sure to stop by Booth 805 at the The 2026 OTA Winter Conference and Trade Show

Nationwide First Responder Grants will be on-site throughout the conference to discuss grant funding opportunities specifically designed to support fire, EMS, and other public safety agencies. Whether your department is looking for equipment, training, staffing support, or future funding options, our team can help guide you through what programs may be available and how to get started.

This is a great opportunity to ask questions, learn more about the grant process, and explore ways to bring much-needed resources back to your township and responders.

📍 The 2026 OTA Winter Conference and Trade Show
📌 Booth 805

Stop by, say hello, and see how grant funding can make a difference in your community. 🚒🚑

01/30/2026

As a general rule, you won't find me placing non-grant related news articles on this page.

However, this is one time that I'm honored, humbled, and saddened that the American fire service is losing one of its "good ones!"

Chief Scott Mast has been a loyal friend, mentor, and client of mine for many years.

Unbeknownst to him until now, he was one of the people that reminded me what the fire service was all about, and (at the time) was the deciding factor for me to remain in the fire service!

Congratulations, sir, you have assisted in saving many lives and by your example, have inspired even more!

To sum it all up, THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU!

https://www.knoxpages.com/2026/01/29/pay-it-back-pay-it-forward-fcfd-chief-scott-mast-plans-april-retirement/?fbclid=Iwb21leAPo22hjbGNrA-jbQmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHnwKsILSuKqxFkQVKrWjCp0yYg9756M4J0HYDxByd2Kq_ZpjsLaM-19K8eCZ_aem_OUr2xTYWp8VpYV9kN4ISww

WSYX ABC 6
FOX 28 Columbus

Fredericktown Community Fire District Chief Scott Mast plans to retire on April 18. Mast opened up about his long career and mental health, read more here.

01/08/2026

🚨🚨FY2025 AFG, SAFER, & FP-S Update 🚨🚨

I just received confirmation on the funding levels for each program for this upcoming cycle.

The following information applies:

🚨The AFG will be funded at the REDUCED level of $291.6 million dollars.

🚨The SAFER will be funded at the REDUCED level of $324 million dollars.

🚨The Fire Prevention & Safety program will be funded at the REDUCED level of $32.4 million dollars.

Application opening dates: UNKNOWN at this time.

In response to this reduced funding level, I'm personally asking folks who don't TRULY NEED help, to do the right thing and sit out this year so other agencies who do need help can receive it.

I'll disseminate relative and reliable information as I receive it.

Until then, stay safe and watch each other's six because God knows the politicians certainly aren't going to!

12/31/2025

New Year's Eve - ROLL CALL!

If you're an Ohio department who Nationwide First Responder Grants has helped receive grant funding, let us know who you are, what county you're from, and what you were awarded!

12/25/2025

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

-Luke 2:10-14

- The ORIGINAL Christmas Story!

Merry Christmas 2025, folks! May the good Lord continue to bless and keep each one of us in 2026!

12/04/2025

On a more serious note....

This is a long post but definitely one worth the time spent reading it!

It's been brought to my attention that one or more of my competitors (definition only loosely met) have been attempting to control the narrative and flow of information as it relates to PROPERLY executing best practices as it relates to the management of AFG and SAFER projects.

Since I haven't directly heard it, I will withhold specific comment on several of the situations. Although, I will say that it doesn't shock me to have been made aware of the information.

However, know this, when it comes to the proper administration and management of AFG and SAFER grants, Title 2 of the Codifed Federal Regulations ( 2CFR part 300 for short) is the law of the land when it comes to PROPERLY managing these grants.

Yes, the Ohio (or whatever state you're in) Revised Code is to be considered, HOWEVER, it is NOT the most restrictive of the two sets of laws, which makes it the secondary, NOT the primary guidance on federal grant administration.

Fire Chiefs, Trustees, Mayors, Council members, please remember, ignorance of the rules, laws, and directives is NOT an adequate or affirmative defense.

I am not now, nor have I been, nor will I ever pretend to be an attorney, paralegal, or peanut saleman. However, I have been around the block a time or two over the last 20+ years this program has been in existence.

If any current or previous grant recipients feel as though they have been shielded from the flow of information or have been directed in a manner which is inconsistent with proper statutory requirements, I'm going to provide the following points of contact for your reference.

1. AFG Region 5 representative
James Peltier

Cell # 202-802-6417
Email: [email protected]

2. AFG Region 5 General Email Box:
Email: [email protected]

3. AFG Help Desk:
Direct number: 866-274-0960

With the way the Trump Administration (I don't care if you love him or hate him) is ferreting out corruption within the ranks of the federal government, if I were you, chief, I believe I would want to be on the right side of any corrective action that may or may not be leveled against your agency for failure to comply to proper federal grant management directives and laws.

Should anyone have any questions, by all means, please contact me directly, and if I don't know the answer, I'll definitely point you to someone who does.

1. At a minimum, ALL grant recipients SHALL have a procurement policy in place which is equal to or greater in restriction to 2CFR part 300.

***For EACH active grant award***

2. At a minimum, ALL grant recipients SHALL complete and submit two (2) semi-annual performance reports, and two (2) semi-annual federal financial reports (SF425's) per year for every year your grant is open.

*Contrary to popular belief, these reports SHALL be completed on or before their semi-annual deadline in order to remain compliant and to NOT have your funding locked down.

There are so many more rules that I could but won't write out at this time.

The bottom line, if your grant manager doesn't answer the phone or FAILS to submit a report within the proper timeframe, they have just placed your agency in the trick bag and should be fired immediately!

*Keep the comments civil!*