1. Recruitment and Retention Grant Program Initiative
Firemen’s Association of the State of Pennsylvania
2016
Recruitment and Retention
Grant Program Initiative
Summary of Activities & Results
The Firemen’s Association of the State of Pennsylvania’s SAFER Grant to enhance recruitment and retention for Pennsylvania’s fire and EMS Community was continued in 2016
As part of this program, a local grant opportunity was provided. The Firemen’s Association of the State of Pennsylvania (FASP) offer recruitment and retention grants to fire and EMS agencies in Pennsylvania as part of a comprehensive SAFER Grant.
Details include, by accepting this grant, the agency hereby agrees to provide a report to the Firemen’s Association of the State of Pennsylvania Administrator or funds will be returned to the Association.
The report form for completion is within the grant request. The maximum amount the of grant is $5,000. Grants will be awarded for fire/EMS agencies who want to customize and implement the core recruitment marketing materials developed by FASP. The funds can be used to customize the materials based on local recruitment issues as well as to pay for printing costs associated with the materials. The expected goal is that you will be able to recruit at least one qualified person for specific purposes. To qualify THE AGENCY (FIRE/EMS DEPARTMENT) MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION OF THE STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA.
These are the stories of the first grant award winners.
Project managed by

2. Aston Township Fire Department
$5,000 Grant
Activity:
Obtain a tent, posters,
sign board and
advertising for
recruitment.
Aston Township Fire Department, Delaware County, received $5,000 which was used to prepare promotional materials, advertise, obtain a sign board and tent for use at events.
The fire company reports 5 new firefighters were recruited as well as 2 new support members for fundraising and administrative assistance.
Result: new firefighters
2 new support members
(fundraising & administrative)

3. Blue Rock Regional Fire District
$5,000 Grant
Activity:
Website, poster
and advertisements
Conduct open house and public events
Retention appreciation events for the members
Blue Rock regional fire district in Lancaster County developed a website, created posters and advertisements and held open houses and public events. Member retention appreciation events were held for the members.
The district represents the consolidation of several fire companies. It reports 18 new firefighters were recruited as well as 1 new support member.
Result: new firefighters
1 new support members

4. Canonsburg Volunteer Fire Company
$5,000 Grant
Activity:
Video production
Printed materials
Promotional items
Canonsburg Volunteer Fire Department, Washington County, received $5,000 which was used to develop a promotional video, a variety of printed materials such as, posters, tri-fold brochures, and table tents, as well as a variety of promotional items.
The fire company reports 8 new firefighters were recruited as well as 1 new support member and the return of a former member.
Result: new firefighters
1 new support member
1 former member returned

5. Citizen’s Hose Company No. 1 of Dillsburg
$3.136 Grant
Activity:
Flyers in Newspapers
twice monthly
Citizen’s Hose Company No. 1 of Dillsburg, York County, PA received $3,136 to create and provide flyers twice a month in local newspapers. They printed 23,400 recruiting flyers and had them inserted into the local newspaper, The Dillsburg Banner. They did 6 runs of 3,900 copies each; over a 6 month period.
Unfortunately the fire company was not able to recruit any new members.
Result: new firefighters

6. Conshohocken Fire Company #1
$5,000 Grant
Activity:
Produced
video &
promotional
flyer
The Conshohocken Fire Company Number 1, Montgomery County, received $5,000 which was used to prepare recruitment letters.
The fire company reports 6 new firefighters.
Result: 6 new firefighters

7. Diamond Fire Company of Walnutport
$5,000 Grant
Activity:
Recruitment signs, banners,
and flyers obtained and
strategically placed in the
community; as well as a large sign on Main St.
Logo wear for members meeting performance/recruiting duties
Diamond Fire Company of Walnutport, Northampton County, received $5,000 which was used to prepare a promotional signs, banners, flyers and a sign for Main Street as a recruitment effort and for members who attained performance goals for recruiting members and operations, retention awards of logo wear were provided.
The fire company reports 2 new firefighters were recruited as well as 1 new support member.
Result: new firefighters
1 new support members

8. Flourtown Fire Company
$5,000 Grant
Activity:
Developed a video &
created and
implemented
a mentoring
program
Flourtown Fire Company, Montgomery County, received $5,000 which was used to develop a video and create and implement a mentoring program for the department to establish more consistent branding of the organization. The video was identified as a direct link to what brought new members in to the organization
The fire company reports 2 new firefighters were recruited as well as 2 new fire police members.
Result: new firefighters
2 new fire police members

9. Franklintown & Community Fire Company
$5,000 Grant
Activity:
Retention activities
involving social events,
logo wear and
awards for performance
Franklintown and Community Fire Company, County, received $5,000 which was used to support retention activities involving local social events, logo wear and performance awards which were based upon performance criteria.
The fire company reports that the recognition and awards motivated members to continue to serve.
Result: Current members were recognized for their service and retained.

10. Hummel’s Wharf Fire Department
$5,000 Grant
Activity:
Advertisement via
Billboards
TV/Radio
Newspaper
Student First Responder Program
Hummel’s Wharf Fire Department, Snyder County, received $5,000 which was used to prepare promotional materials as well as radio/tv spots that were used for recruitment. A student first responder program was also implemented.
The fire company reports 5 new firefighters were recruited.
Result: new firefighters

11. Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company
$5,000 Grant
Activity:
Expand on program
from prior year
Provide logo wear for
use at promotional
events and fundraisers.
Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company, Carbon County, received $5,000 which was used to expand its program from the prior year, and provide logo wear for use at community fundraising and recruitment events.
The fire company reports 2 new firefighters were recruited as well as 1 new support member; and a local financial advisor has offered to perform the fire company audit (mandated by state law and local township) free of charge at the end of the year.
Result: new firefighters
1 new support member

12. Millbourne Volunteer Fire Company
$5,000 Grant
Activity:
Design, prepare
and print a
variety of
recruitment materials
& retention performance
recognition items
The Millbourne Volunteer Fire Company, Delaware County, received $5,000 which was used to design, prepare and print promotional materials that were used for recruitment; as well the use of a performance recognition program to retain members.
The fire company reports 4 new firefighters were recruited and current members retained.
Result: 4 new firefighters

13. North Belle Vernon Volunteer Fire Company
$1,864 Grant
Activity:
Purchased and
installed a lighted
public information
sign for recruiting
new members
North Belle Vernon Volunteer Fire Company, Westmoreland County, received $1,864 which was used to procure and install a lighted public information sign to be used primarily to recruit members.
The fire company reports 6 new firefighters were recruited as well as 4 new support members.
Result: 6 new firefighters

14. Rothsville VFC & Fire Department of Mount Joy
$10,000 Grant
Activity:
Sponsored a Countywide cooperative effort advertising for regional recruiting day based on success of Mt. Joy area 2015 grant.
8 Fire companies participated in:
Newspaper ads, electronic billboard, radio ad
A regional recruiting day was facilitated by a joint grant to Rothsville Volunteer Fire Company and Fire Department of Mount Joy, for the Lancaster County area. Together, they shared with fire companies from Mastersonville, Elizabethtown, Manheim, Brickerville, Brunnerville, and Lititz in advertising locally in newspapers, using an electronic billboard, and advertising on WGAL for one month. In addition, the use of facebook, websites related social media supported the effort.
The regional effort netted 11 new firefighters, 1 new fire police member and 3 new support members.
Result: new firefighters
1 new fire police member
3 new support members

15. United Hook & Ladder Company #33
$5,000 Grant
Activity:
Created and used
brochures, yard signs
printed materials
Conducted a citizens
fire academy
United Hook and Ladder, Company #33, Adams County, received $5,000 which was used to for brochures, yard signs, printed materials, and related promotional materials.
The fire company reports 5 new firefighters were recruited.
Result: new firefighters

16. 2016 FASP Recruitment and Retention Grant Program Summary
$75,000 committed in grant money 16 fire/EMS agencies 75 firefighters, 3 fire police and 9 active/support members.
The FASP offered 15 grants in 2016 totaling $75,000.
The results were recruitments of a total of 142 new members statewide;
75 firefighters, 3 fire police and 9 active/support members.
The total two year number of recruited personnel stands at 229.