| Facts and FAQs |
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| G.S. 58-87-5 |
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| Funding: |
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| G.S. 20-183.7 (c) (1) 7 (2) Fifteen cents (.15) of vehicle inspections stickers. |
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| Purpose: |
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| To assist rescue organizations to purchase equipment and make capital
expenditures. Rescue Organizations shall match the grant on a dollar-for-dollar basis,
up to $25,000. Organizations having cash assets over $1,000 may apply for the matching
fund, up to $25,000. Organizations having cash assets less than $1,000 may apply for a
non-matching grant, up to $3,000. |
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| Eligibility Criteria: |
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| Fire departments must meet the following requirements
to receive the tax that is collected within their fire district: |
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- Rescue provider is all volunteer, with the exception of ten paid positions.
- Rescue provider is recognized by the Department of Insurance as a rescue or a rescue EMS provider.
- Rescue provider must meet the eligibility criteria of the NC Association of Rescue & EMS.
- County recognizes organization as providing rescue or rescue/EMS or EMS
- Rescue provider must be certified by the Office of Emergency Medical Service to request ALS equipment.
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| General Statute Definition of a Rescue Provider:
"rescue" means the removal of individuals facing external,
nonmedical, and nonpatient related peril to areas of relative
safety. A "rescue unit" or "rescue squad" means a group of
individuals who are not necessarily trained in emergency medical
services, fire fighting, or law enforcement, but who expose
themselves to an external, nonmedical, and nonpatient related
peril to effect the removal of individuals facing the same type of
peril to areas of relative safety. |
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| DO NOT PLACE ORDERS PRIOR TO DECEMBER 15 ANNOUNCEMENT DATE |
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| Review of Applications: |
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| Applications are reviewed and scored using a non
subjective point system. Areas evaluated are; all volunteer/paid
positions, number and age of organizations vehicles, financial
status and type of equipment being requested. At the time all
applications have been entered into the database and scored, the
available monies is entered. The computer selects the applications
with the lowest total score until the available monies is exhausted.
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| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: |
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| Q. Our organization also provides rescue,
could we apply for the rescue grant? |
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| A. Yes. However, you must meet all eligibility criteria. |
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| Q. We are First Responders, could we apply
for the rescue grant? |
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| A. Yes, if the organization provides rescue
and meets the eligibility criteria. |
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| Q. What type of equipment is typically not
considered for matching funds? |
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| A. Furniture, copiers, fax machines, manuals,
land purchases, refurbish or upgrades to SCBA's, refurbish vehicles,
refurbish communications equipment. Call this office if in doubt. |
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| Q. Are application extensions given? |
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| A. No |
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| Q. Are invoice extensions given? |
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| A. Yes, but only for approved vehicles and
building request. The manufacturer or contractor must send this
office a notarized letter stating the order date and projected
delivery/completion date. The letter must be received by this
office by the April 30 deadline date. The extension date is
September 15. |
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| **A Thirty (30) day extension (May 30) can be given
for protective clothing (nomex) with letter of request prior to
April 30. |
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| Q. If my rescue organization receives their
approved equipment before the April 30 deadline, can I receive the
matching funds earlier? |
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| A. Yes, check requests are given to the Controller's Office weekly. |
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| Q. My organization was approved for matching funds. What forms are required and when are they due? |
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A. Prior to receiving your matching funds check, the following forms are required to be submitted to OSFM:
Agreement of Payment Form, Conflict of Interest Statement and the State Grant Certification – No Over Due Tax Debts Form. Your check will not be released without these forms
After receipt of your matching funds check, the following forms are required to be submitted to the Department of Insurance, Controller’s Office:
State Grants Compliance Report, Program Activities and Accomplishments Report and the State Grant Certification and Sworn Statement. Until these forms are received by our Controller’s office, your fire department will be placed on the State Auditors “suspend funding” report.
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| Q. The invoice deadline is approaching, most
of the approved equipment has been delivered, but some equipment
will not be delivered by April 30, will my rescue organization lose
all of the approved matching funds? |
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| A. No. The equipment that has not been
received will be excluded from the approved matching funds. |
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| The Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund (Rescue Grant) is
administered through the Office of State Fire Marshal Grants of
the Department of Insurance, 1202 Mail Service Center, Raleigh,
NC 27699-1202, 919-661-5880. Lauren Thompson is the Administrative
Officer of the fund. |
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