Fire Services Training Program Grants

Important dates

Overview

The aim of the Fire Services Training Program is to:

• support Alberta communities in developing capacity to prevent, prepare for and respond to identified risk
• help ensure training of fire services remains current and is updated as required
• ensure training aligns with and supports community planning

For more information, read the Fire Services Training Program: Program Guidelines document.

Funding

The supplemental funding enhances basic training. The municipality/training group must agree to contribute any outstanding funds for the training.

Funding is made as a lump-sum payment to the hosting municipality or First Nation.

Table 1. 2019/2020 Fire Services Training Program Grant recipients

Eligible entities

Eligible entities include Alberta’s:

• municipalities
• Metis settlements
• First Nations communities
• partnerships of the above or partnerships with a municipality as the primary applicant

Ineligible entities

Ineligible entities include:

• individuals
• applicants with history of non-compliance
• for-profit business/corporations

Eligible project costs

Eligible costs for projects and courses include, but are not limited to:

• fire services training
• specialized training programs

Ineligible costs

Ineligible project costs include:

• capital or equipment purchases, repairs, upgrading or maintenance
• wages, stipends, meals, travel or honoraria for students
• training carried out before the minister signs the conditional grant agreement
• Incident Command System courses
• training completed prior to receiving minister approval
• rental of owned classrooms and equipment
• in-house instructor fees (that is, training is not intended to subsidize an employee’s full-time salary, but may be paid to volunteers as contractors).

After you apply

Application criteria

Applications will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• a comprehensive plan outlining timelines for training completion
• a letter of support demonstrating the collaboration with training partners, including a breakdown of course hosting
• meeting compliance in previous years and history of training completed

All courses or the full requested amount may not be awarded.

Successful applicants

Applicants will be notified within 2 1/2 months of the application deadline.

Successful applicants will sign a conditional grant agreement. Training can begin after the minister (or his delegated representative) signs this agreement.

The terms of the agreement include:

• the use of the grant for approved purposes only
• eligibility
• reporting and accountability requirements
• the minister’s right to audit any project
• the minister’s right to require a refund of any grant funds not used in accordance with the agreement

Minister’s decisions regarding grant funding are final.

First Nations applicants

First Nations must submit a band council resolution along with the signed conditional grant agreement.

Reporting requirements

Reports on the  2018/2019 Fire Services Training Program grants were due June 30, 2020. Any outstanding reports should still use the 2018/2019 Fire Services Training Program Reporting Form (PDF, 776 KB).

Reporting documents for the 2019/2020 Fire Services Training Program grants are due June 30, 2021. Use the Fire Services Training Program 2019/2020 Reporting Form (PDF, 818 KB) to help fill out your reporting requirements.

You will need to submit information that demonstrates:

• that the total grant received was used in accordance with the conditional grant agreement
• include all receipts/invoices
• a description of the training undertaken
• certification that the municipality or First Nation did not use any portion of the grant to carry out any training before the original conditional grant agreement was signed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs
• that course(s) were completed by May 31, 2021 or by the completion date as stated in an amended conditional grant agreement

Contact

If you have any questions about the program or these guidelines, contact the grants coordinator.

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 1-866-421-6929
Email: firecomm@gov.ab.ca