Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grants

How it works

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced 46 recipients of 2023 Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Grants on October 23, 2023. The program is funded through a federal source: funds pass from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service to state forestry offices, which then award grants to volunteer firefighter projects statewide.

What the money covers

According to the announcement, the grants are used to train personnel and purchase equipment aimed at improving firefighting capabilities. The page also says a small portion of the funds are targeted toward special training projects in cooperation with the Connecticut Fire Academy in Windsor Locks.

Amounts and matching

Most of Connecticut’s VFA funds are directed toward small grants that do not exceed $2,500. The program is a 50% reimbursable matching grant: after the fire department spends the funds, it is reimbursed up to 50%, not to exceed $2,500. The 2023 recipient list shows awards ranging from $918.69 to $2,500, with multiple departments receiving the full $2,500.

How to apply

The page does not provide a homeowner application process. It does say fire department applications are scored using these criteria: number of calls during the previous year; the town’s insurance rating and whether there is a plan to reduce or improve it; the percentage of the fire department budget paid for by town taxes; and recent history of receiving VFA grants.

Timing and deadlines

The announcement is dated 2023-10-23. All projects funded under this round must be completed by 2024-08-28. The page does not state future opening or closing dates for applications.