NEAFC Awarded $3.3 Million SAFER Grant to Support Volunteer Firefighter Recruitment and Retention Across New England
- NHSFA
- May 28
- 2 min read
The New England Association of Fire Chiefs (NEAFC) has been awarded a $3,376,399 Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant aimed at strengthening Volunteer and Combination Fire Departments throughout all six New England states, including New Hampshire.
This major investment represents a significant opportunity for departments across the region to enhance recruitment and retention efforts while helping ensure communities continue to receive timely and effective emergency response services.
The grant program, which runs from December 23, 2025 through December 22, 2029, is focused on helping departments address ongoing staffing challenges by supporting the onboarding, training, and development of volunteer firefighters.
What the Grant Supports
The SAFER Grant includes several important funding categories designed to reduce financial barriers for both departments and new recruits.
New Recruit Support
Departments may receive reimbursement assistance for:
NFPA 1582 compliant entry-level physicals up to $400 per recruit
Firefighter and EMS training expenses, including First Responder, EMT, FF1, and FF2 training, up to $2,500 per recruit
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) reimbursement up to $4,125 for qualified new recruits
These resources can help departments bring on new members while reducing the significant costs often associated with volunteer firefighter onboarding.
Leadership Development
The grant also places a strong emphasis on leadership training and retention initiatives.
Fire service leaders throughout New England will have opportunities to attend leadership development workshops focused on topics such as:
Recruitment and retention strategies
Management and leadership skills
Motivation techniques
Behavioral health awareness
In addition, select leaders may attend nationally recognized conferences and training opportunities, including FDIC International, VCOS Symposium in the Sun, and the NVFC Recruitment & Retention Training Summit as part of a Train-the-Trainer initiative.
Recruitment Marketing and Outreach
Another major component of the SAFER Grant is a regional recruitment marketing campaign managed by the NEAFC. The campaign will utilize digital advertising, social media outreach, radio, event marketing, and customizable recruitment materials for participating departments.
All recruitment efforts will direct interested candidates to VolunteerFirefighter.org, where prospective volunteers can learn more and submit applications for review.
Supporting the Future of the Fire Service
Volunteer and combination fire departments remain the backbone of emergency response in many communities throughout New Hampshire and across New England. Recruitment and retention continue to be among the greatest challenges facing today’s fire service, especially in rural and volunteer-based systems.
This SAFER Grant represents a meaningful investment in the future of the fire service by helping departments recruit, train, equip, and retain the next generation of firefighters while strengthening leadership development and community outreach efforts.
For more information about the SAFER Grant program, visit VolunteerFirefighter.org or NewEnglandFireChiefs.org.
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