The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Volunteer Fire Capacity Grant Program will soon reopen this Fall, offering cost-share funds to rural volunteer fire departments for wildland firefighting equipment, training, and supplies. Volunteer Fire Departments serving communities of 10,000 or less can apply for funding between $5,000 and $20,000, with a 50% match reimbursement. This means that eligible expenses must be purchased upfront. Common purchases reimbursed through the grant include radios, turnout gear, and PPE, with limitations on items over $5,000 and exclusions for capital projects. Volunteer Fire Departments must be registered in NJSTART and have an active DUNS number. The last announcement concluded in November 2023; now is the time to prepare for the next round.
To prepare, departments should start compiling equipment needs and cost estimates, verify NJSTART and DUNS registrations, and monitor NJDEP’s grant page for updates. Based on past cycles, applications are expected to open in Fall 2025 and close by November 30, with awards announced in early 2026.
For assistance, contact Taylor Devlin at taylor.devlin@dep.nj.gov .
Please share this information with your volunteer fire departments.
Contact: Ciara Bradley, Research Associate, cbradley@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x128.