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Grant Information

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2026 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant - *NOW OPEN!*
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VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are once again pleased to sponsor a need-based Health & Wellness Grant program for fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations in Texas. Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded based on financial need and are intended to assist emergency service organizations in developing a health & wellness program to prevent emergency responder deaths and injuries and for cancer prevention. Departments will need to apply for the grant, expend the funds and then send in copies of receipts in order to receive the grant funds.  Grant Application Deadline is December 31, 2025.

Who is eligible:

• All-volunteer or mostly-volunteer fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations that serve a population of 100,000 or less and are legally organized in Texas.

What is eligible:

• Cost for member physicals, exercise equipment, nutritionist, rehab equipment, hoods with barrier protection, decon cloths/wipes, washable gloves, extractors/dryers for turn-out gear or other health & wellness and cancer prevention items.

How it works:

• Departments should apply for assistance (completed grant application, attached quote for items/services, & signed W-9) by December 31, 2025.
• Applications will be reviewed and notice will be sent to those awarded a grant by January 31, 2026.
• Departments will be responsible for sending in paid receipts by May 1, 2026 in order to receive reimbursement

Any grant questions, please contact Gabriel Cooper at
[email protected] or 512-225-0987.

APPLY HERE!

**DEADLINE TO APPLY IS DECEMBER 31, 2025**

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2025 Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program (HB 3667) - CLOSED

The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program (HB 3667) is a grant program designed to reimburse eligible volunteer fire departments for the purchase of insurance from private insurance companies. Eligible coverage includes any combination of compensation insurance for firefighters (workers’ compensation, accidental death and dismemberment, group term life, accident and sickness, and/or cancer-related insurance) purchased from Texas insurance companies. The program will reimburse 100% of the actual cost of eligible insurance coverage up to a maximum of $220 per fire department member.

Recognized, non-profit volunteer fire departments operated by its members are eligible. Any part-paid/part-volunteer department is also eligible, provided the number of paid members is 20 or less. Departments may enter into agreements with cities or counties in order to qualify for coverage and/or special premiums.

All eligible departments must participate in a firefighter certification program administered under Section 419.071 of the Texas Government Code (Texas Commission on Fire Protection), or by the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association of Texas (SFFMA), or by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG).

IMPORTANT NOTES: 

• The policy or payment documents must show the policy number, the cost or premium amount and the coverage period. 
• All required reimbursement documents must accompany the 2025 grant application form. 
• Applications, either complete or incomplete, arriving after July 31, 2025 are not eligible for reimbursement. 
• ONLY ONE application per department will be reimbursed for the enrollment period of November 2024 thru July 2025.
• The program will reimburse 100% of the actual cost of eligible insurance coverage, up to a maximum of $220 per fire department member covered in the calendar year 2025.

Enrollment Closed for 2025

Find More Info on FireConnect

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Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Program (HB 2604)

The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program provides vital funding to help Texas volunteer fire departments better serve and protect their communities. Through this program, eligible departments can receive support for:

• Firefighting vehicles
• Fire and rescue equipment
• Protective clothing and gear
• Dry-hydrants
• Firefighter training
• Volunteer recruitment resources
• Emergency assistance following catastrophic events and declared disasters
  
  

Who is Eligible?
Recognized, non-profit volunteer fire departments operated by their members are eligible to apply. Part-paid/part-volunteer departments with 20 or fewer paid members may also qualify. Departments must:

• Be recognized by the State of Texas and in good standing
• Operate within an assigned primary protection area (no overlaps)
• Meet additional federal requirements if receiving federal funds
  
  

Program Impact
Created by the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001, this program has been instrumental in providing training, vehicles, and equipment that many departments would otherwise not have access to. Because of its importance to Texas fire service, request volume far exceeds annual funding—but the program continues to make a significant difference in strengthening fire protection across the state.

👉 Contact Texas A&M Forest Service to learn more about applying for this program and other funding opportunities available to your department.

• Special Announcement – New Legislative Funding
• Next Funding Meeting – Tentatively Scheduled for October 14
• FY25 program updates and changes.

Active Declared State of Disaster Grants

• 253 – Heavy Rainfall and Flooding | 7/2/25 – 9/30/25
• 254 – Increased Fire Weather | 8/12/25 – 9/14/25​

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Texas Department of State Health Services

The DSHS Office of Emergency Medical Services Trauma System Coordination is responsible for managing Local Projects Grant (LPG) funding. Eligible organizations include department licensed EMS providers, department registered first responder organizations, Regional EMS/Trauma Advisory Councils (RACs),
approved EMS education organizations, and pre-hospital injury prevention organizations. Funding is available for EMS personnel certification training, specialty training related to pre-hospital health care management, communication equipment, patient care equipment and non-disposable supplies, injury-prevention projects, continuing education programs and the purchase of an ambulance.  For more information, click here.

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Assistance to Firefighters Grant
 
The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. The Office of Grants and Training in the Department of Homeland Security administers the grants in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. For fiscal year 2005, Congress reauthorized the Assistance to Firefighters Grants for an additional 5 years through 2010. For more information, click here. (www.firegrantsupport.com/afg/)

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Staffing  for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response

The purpose of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants is to help fire  departments increase the number of frontline firefighters. The goal is for fire departments to increase  their staffing and deployment capabilities and ultimately attain 24-hour staffing, thus assuring that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. The SAFER grants support two specific activities: (1) the hiring of firefighters, and (2) recruitment and retention of volunteer  firefighters. The hiring of firefighters activity provides grants to pay for part of the salaries of newly hired firefighters over the 5-year program. SAFER is part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants and  is under the purview of the Office of Grants and Training of the Department of Homeland Security. For more information, click here. (www.firegrantsupport.com/safer/).

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Governor's Extraordinary Emergency Fund

Funding is available to support the emergent, unexpected needs of EMS providers or DSHS-approved organizations.  Proposals are evaluated based on impact to the regional or statewide EMS/trauma system.  Eligible applications include licensed EMS providers, registered first responder organizations and licensed hospitals.  For more information, click here.