WINNING NARRATIVE 2008




Project Description

* Please indicate which of these Target Capabilities your request outlined in this application will satisfy. Check all that
apply:

* Please provide your narrative statement in the space provided below. Include in your narrative, details regarding (1)
your project’s description and budget, (2) your organization’s financial need, (3) the benefit to be derived from the cost
of your project, and (4) how the activities requested in your application will help your organization’s daily operations and
how this grant will protect life and property.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BUDGET:
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After conducting a risk assessment and prioritized our list the XXX Volunteer Fire Department is seeking
$67,381 to improve its fire operations and firefighter safety program. These purchases are planned specifically for
firefighting equipment, personal protective equipment and training to increase the safety of our firefighters and their
ability to protect the public they serve.

The XXX Volunteer Fire Department is the largest fire department in XXX County. XXX is located
approximately XX miles northwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. The XXX Fire District is located on/near
state and federal highways. Canadian Pacific Railroad runs through our city and four other towns in the county.
Hazardous materials are transported in and through our community daily.

The City of XXX has a very active airport with a large amount of fuel stored at this site. Within the city limits of
XXX we have an elementary school, numerous licensed day cares, senior citizen apartments and assisted living
complexes. In addition, a hospital, clinic and centrally located grain elevator with farm chemical and fertilizer storage.

Funds requested from the PPE Category would replace our turn out gear which is over 10 years old. In a previous
grant the XXX Volunteer Fire Department was able to receive funding for 27 sets of helmets, gloves, and boots.
Since that time our present turn out gear has acquired holes and cuts which greatly increase firefighter safety. The
XXX Volunteer Fire Department is seeking 27 new suits that will provide all members with 100% NFPA and
OSHA compliant gear. The total funding for PPE category is $48,195

Under the Firefighter Equipment Category we are planning to purchase the following:
These items are needed to replace worn and outdated equipment. The hose will replace hoses that did not pass are
annual hose test. The 2100 gallon drop tank will help us more efficiently assist in rural and mutual aid responses. With
the number of larger grain storage facilities, the harnesses and rescue ropes are essential in any possible rescue
situation. The total funding for Firefighter Equipment is $16,336

The Training Category funds will be used to conduct multiple education sessions including live burn trailer, live house
burn and auto extrication. The auto extrication training will update our members on the changes in the automotive
industry. These training exercises will also include our mutual aid departments.
The total funding for training is $2,850

Budget Items

Total Project Cost: $ 67,381
Required 5% Match: $ 3,369
Federal Share: $ 64,012


FINANCIAL NEED:
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XXX and XXX County as a whole have a relatively small tax base with an overall county population of 6,067.
XXX Fire Department has had a fixed operating budget and a greater percentage has gone to increased fuel
and utility costs.

The department has had to direct funds to these immediate expenses. Therefore, we have been unable to set money
aside to upgrade equipment. Without receiving this grant, we will be unable to purchase the requested equipment.
The inadequate small annual budget we receive from the City of XXX and surrounding townships is used to pay
for fuel, repairs, utilities, training, insurance and debt service on our pumper, transport vehicle and fire station. It does
not include money for large equipment expenditures. Our steps taken to seek alternative funding were unsuccessful.
Unfortunately, every year our local services such as police and fire protection are challenged with providing more
services and support with less assistance from our state and local government. With these financial obstacles, it is
even more critical to provide, maintain and expand fire protection through this grant.

2008 CITY OF XXX PROJECTED BUDGET
$ 332,520 ...General Budget
$ 125,300 ...Police Service
$ 56,908 ...Fire Protection
$ 420,400 ...Public Works, water & sewer
$ 22,160 ...Park
$ 957,288 ....Total

FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET:
$ 8,325 ... Repairs, operating supplies, maintenance.
$ 8,450 ... Utilities, insurance, professional services
$ 5,329... Fire communications and repairs
$ 23,475 ... Wages, work comp
$ 3,329 ... Training, Fire Prevention
$ 48,908....Total

Why can’t this project be funded solely through local funding resources?
We live in a rural farming community and the farming economy has not been strong the past few years, and due to cuts
in state aid, the community does not have the funds available for a project of this size.

COST BENEFIT:
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By receiving this grant and this equipment we can remove the cause of the conditions and problems which are
negatively affecting our ability to provide mission critical services.

This grant would allow us to more safely outfit our firefighters with NFPA and OSHA compliant gear and equipment.
In turn it would allow our firefighters to fight fires more safely and efficiently, ultimately resulting in greater protection of
our community and reducing loss of life and property.

Our annual fire department budget is very small. We are able to allocate small amount per year from our budget for
training needs. It will take our department several years to save the funds needed for this project. By that time costs
will have increased so we will still be unable to purchase the needed training.

The benefits of having new, OSHA and NFPA 1971 compliant personal protective equipment in our department are
numerous. Firefighters require the best personal protective equipment available, because of the environment in which
they perform their duties.

Compliant turn out gear will greatly improve the health and safety of the public and firefighters in a fire or fire related
hazard. It would also promote interoperability with neighboring communities. They know we are properly equipped to
complete the task at hand. This turnout gear will also fill a resource gap that exists.

The need to improve and update our equipment is a tremendous concern, and without support from organizations like
FEMA, we feel small rural departments are constantly losing ground on having safe equipment. If we do not receive this
grant, our firefighters and community are still at risk and we will continue to have a gap in our mission critical services.
This instructor led, hands-on training program will reduce safety and health risks to our volunteer firefighters in 100% of
our fire calls.

This program will assist our community with purchasing valuable training that will ultimately reduce life and economic
losses.

Reducing safety hazards for our volunteer firefighters and providing instructor led, hands-on training is necessary for
attracting future firefighters; so that we may remain a viable department for years to come.

Training will improve the services that our firefighters can provide to residents. One hundred percent of our department
will experience improved service.

Lack of training adds undue stress to our personnel when responding to an emergency.
This instructor led, hands-on training program will improve our ability to operate within our department during an
emergency. This program will also improve our interoperability with neighboring fire departments.

Our department has mutual aid agreements with seven neighboring fire departments. Our department will use this
training on all mutual aid calls.

Training will decrease our critical response time and increase our efficiency at a fire scene.

This instructor led, hands-on training will bring our department into compliance with OSHA 1910.156 and NFPA. This
project will allow our department to better meet The General Duty Clause (Minnesota Statute 182.653 Subd. 2) each
employer shall furnish to each of its employees conditions of employment and a place of employment free from
recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious injury or harm to its employees. –
Employers must provide a safe and healthful workplace.

This training will increase the ability of our volunteer firefighters to provide fire service in a safe and efficient manner.
The need to improve and update our equipment is a tremendous concern, and without support from organizations like
FEMA, we feel small rural departments are constantly loosing ground on having safe equipment. If we do not receive
this grant, our firefighters and community are still at risk and we will continue to have a gap in our mission critical
services.

By not receiving this grant the safety to our firefighters and community are still at risk and we will continue to have a
gap in our mission critical services.

STATEMENT OF EFFECT:
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We have an extreme need for the equipment we are requesting. Firefighter safety in daily operations is a top priority to
keep our community safe. Our members rely on their equipment to perform as much as they do their fellow firefighters.

This grant will allow 100% of our firefighters to have adequate and safe firefighting equipment.

The XXX Fire Department is seeking AFGP funding to help us get our department in compliance with OSHA and
NFPA properly and with up-to-date modern equipment so our volunteers are safe in all the hazards and situations we
respond to when assisting our citizens in our daily operations.

This award will have the most positive affect on our daily operations and the safety of your firefighters and also fill the
gap that the department currently has.

This award will also have significant impact on our ability to function safely in hostile IDLH environments as we affect
search and rescue operations on a day to day basis. This equipment will have a huge impact on our department's
ability to protect lives and property in your community.

Our department is very dedicated to protect lives and property, serving our people and we are the type of department
that the FIRE Act is supposed to help.

We respond on calls that fall into at least five different categories and with the new compliant equipment it will help us
meet the growing demands on our department. These demands on our department are increasingly disproportionate to
our tax revenues and the resources we possess in a small department.

We will be tracking the impact of this grant over the next five (5) years as we measure it's positive impact on our
community.

We appreciate your support and would like to express our appreciation for the opportunities this grant program would
provide to our department.

Thank you for your consideration.
XXX Volunteer Fire Department