In the anticipation of federal funding, Volunteer Florida is proud to announce the availability of FY 2017-2018 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)/Citizen Corps Program funding. Volunteer Florida will distribute a total of $300,000; in sub-grant awards of up to $10,000. Interested parties may apply for funding for a CERT program, a Citizen Corps program, or both. If seeking funding for both CERT and Citizen Corps, a separate application must be submitted for each.
Volunteer Florida Chief Executive Officer Chester W. Spellman said, “As the lead agency for volunteers and donations before, during, and after disasters, Volunteer Florida is thrilled to offer funding that prepares citizens to take action in times of an emergency. CERT/Citizen Corps grantees strengthen the critical work of our emergency management officials by deploying volunteers and building capacity efforts.”
Volunteer Florida administers Florida’s CERT/Citizen Corps program funding in partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (DEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). CERT/Citizen Corps is a training program that prepares Floridians to help their families and neighbors in the event of a disaster in their community.
The Citizen Corps program was created to coordinate volunteer activities that will make local communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any emergency situation. Citizen Corps Councils focus on emergency planning and education that will enhance community post-disaster resiliency.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is a training program that allows citizens to receive training in basic disaster response skills which allow these volunteers to provide critical support, giving immediate assistance to victims before emergency first responders arrive on scene.
“CERT/Citizen Corps programs allow communities to recruit and train civilians as neighborhood response teams that become additional support during disasters,” said Bryan Koon, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “We are thankful that Volunteer Florida is administering this funding for Florida.”
Eligible applicants include local units of government, counties and cities within the State of Florida, Fire Tax Districts, other tax districts, regional planning councils, state-supported community colleges, colleges and universities, and federally recognized tribes, or nations within the State of Florida. Although 501(c)3 non-profit organizations are not directly eligible, local jurisdictions can subcontract with 501(c)3 organizations to perform these functions.
To see the list of current grantees, please visit this link.
Applications are due to Volunteer Florida by Monday, July 10, 2017 by 5:00 PM EDT.
To learn more and view the grant funding opportunity, please visit our grants page.
Any questions concerning the grant funding opportunity should be submitted via email to cert2018@volunteerflorida.org.
