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.

XXX Minnesota

We are a small rural agricultural community located XXX miles south of Minneapolis / St. Paul. The population of the
community is 152 people and our service area is 1394 people. The XXX Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department
provides fire protection, rescue, and emergency medical services to these people in a 61 square mile area.


Project Description and Budget:
--------------------------------
After a risk assessment analysis the XXX Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department would like to purchase a complete
containment fill station, which is compliant with NFPA and OSHA standards.

We currently do not have a containment system to fill SCBA tanks. If our grant is approved we would receive training
from the vendor after installation plus ongoing training throughout the year.

We are not requesting funding for training our department because the city has already allocated money for training.
This money keeps all our current members up to date and compliant with NFPA 1001 standards. We currently have 2
new members that will be taking the NFPA 1001 course.

Project: Complete Containment Fill Station
Total project budget - $36,805.00
Grant request - $36,805.00
Our 5% match - $ 1,840.00
FEMA share - $ 34,965.00


Financial Need:
--------------------

This project cannot be solely funded through local funds especially with the recent well and street projects that went
over the cities projected budget.

With cuts to local government aid and no city reserve to help with a project of this cost it will take outside funds to
complete it.

2008 Fire Budget:
$ 16,800 - - - Salaries, wages and benefits
$ 5,070 - - - Heat, Light, water and phone
$ 8,700 - - - Training
$ 2,600 - - - Truck Maintenance and Fuel
$ 2,600 - - - Fire & Rescue Supplies
$ 6,800 - - - Insurance & work comp. insurance
$ 42,570 - - - Total Fire Department

2008 City Budget:
$ 13,760 - - - General Administration
$ 25,794 - - - Admin & Professional Services
$ 6,525 - - - Government Buildings
$ 42,570 - - - Fire
$ 360 - - - CD Siren
$ 12,700 - - - Highways & Streets
$ 15,000 - - - General Obligations Water Revenue Bond
$ 116,709 - - - Total City

The City just completed the new well and street project that went over budget making it impossible for the city to
contribute any additional funds to the department for a complete containment fill station.


Cost Benefits:
-----------------

If this project is funded we will be able to fill SCBA tanks in a safe and efficient manner. Which at this time we do not
have a containment system to fill them safely.

With a complete containment system we will be better interoperability with our mutual aid communities that we serve
with XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX, XXX, and XXX communities.

Not receiving funding for this project will leave us with a very unsafe and non-compliant system to fill our SCBA tanks.

We currently have no safe containment system to hold the SCBA tanks as we fill them. This is a very dangerous way
for our firemen to fill our SCBA tanks since they are under extremely high pressure and could explode.

Receiving this grant will allow us the opportunity to install a complete containment fill station at our fire department,
making it more efficient to fill SCBA tanks not only for our department but any mutual aid departments helping us,
especially since we are a very rural area.

Approval of this funding request will enhance the safety to our firefighters and the public that we serve.


Statement of Effect:
-----------------------

The most significant positive direct effect of receiving funding will be the enhanced safety and protection for our
firefighters with respect to fire and all other hazards they face during normal daily operations.

Response times to service calls involving the need for air for SCBA use will be decreased since we will no longer have
to wait for a responding mutual aid department to arrive with the proper equipment. We will be able to perform our
duties as soon as we arrive at each scene.

We will be able to training with SCBA equipment and not need to worry about using air and this will increase firefighter
ability and confidence in their personal safety while performing tasks on calls. This will only add to the effectiveness of
each operation.

Finally, through the proper use of this equipment, our department will be able to safely perform operations that we
could never before do because of equipment limitations.

The members of the XXX Volunteer Fire Department would like to deeply express our gratitude for your interest in
preserving the continuity of our rural way of life through the funding of this project.

Thank you for your consideration
XXX Volunteer Fire Department