Hardee County Fire Rescue seeks multiple FEMA and state grants, including SAFER for six firefighters

Hardee County Fire Rescue and county grants staff asked the board to authorize several grant applications intended to support operations, training and staffing. Stacy Smith described the annual mosquito control work plan grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services ($69,587.50 award with county match not to exceed $9,546.12) to fund surveillance and seasonal activities. For fire safety, county staff requested approval to apply for a FEMA Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S) grant to purchase a fire‑extinguisher training system (estimated cost $35,000; county match ~$1,666.67) to support community risk reduction and public education.

County staff also requested board authorization to apply for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to fund battery‑powered hydraulic extrication tools and a forcible‑entry training door (estimated project cost $150,000) and to submit a SAFER application seeking funding to hire six new firefighter positions. The SAFER application described a three‑year funding profile with an estimated project cost of approximately $1,462,386.52 and a county match estimate of roughly $556,871.52 over the grant period; staff advised award announcements are expected on Sept. 30, 2026. A staff member clarified that the SAFER award (if received) would fund much of the first three years but would require the county to assume higher salary obligations in later years. The board moved and unanimously approved the submissions and acceptance authorizations for each application and authorized staff to sign necessary documents if awarded.

Why this matters: grant awards could provide training equipment, staffing resources and public‑education tools with limited county match; but SAFER positions carry multiyear fiscal implications the county must plan for if funded.