WHEN FUNDING PUBLIC SAFETY PROJECTS BECOMES THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE

A major obstacle when looking to fund any public safety projects is determining how to fund the project(s). All Things FirstNet (ATFN) interviewed Kamala Kuhn, Director of Grants Assistance for Public Sector Grants (PS Grants), to gain insight and learn about federal granting agencies with grant programs that support public safety projects, how to identify the grant programs that will most likely yield a successful application, various strategies to obtain funding, and how PS Grants provides invaluable assistance to agencies.

Kamala Kuhn is the former Deputy Chief of the Nevada Division of Emergency Management. She has over 26 years of professional senior management experience in State and Local Government and almost 30 years of grants experience. During her time at the Nevada Division of Emergency Management, Kuhn had oversight and management responsibility for all public safety grants administered by the division including Homeland Security Grant Program, Emergency Management Preparedness Grant, Federal Disaster Assistance Grants, Communications Grants, Fire Mitigation, and Flood Mitigation Grants.

What are some federal granting agencies with grant programs for public safety projects?

When it comes to federal grant programs that play a major role in funding public safety in America, Kuhn said, “Most commonly, I look to cyclical grants through the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, and Homeland Security. These federal agencies provide programs that are multi-discipline, single discipline, with some programs that are specific to small, rural, and tribal communities. Some of these programs include the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP), Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program (THSGP), Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER), State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, Disaster Assistance programs, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC),Edward Byrne Memorial, Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), STOP School Violence Program, COPS – School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP), and for smaller jurisdictions the Community Connect and Distance Learning & Telemedicine programs.”

Kuhn went on to say, “We also look at funding sources that are derived through special congressional appropriations, such as funding that was provided through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA). Right now, there is a sense of urgency and emphasis being placed on the ARPA funded State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) being administered through the U.S. Department of Treasury. These funds must be obligated on or before December 31, 2024,” she said. “These funds, once past the deadline, can no longer be obligated and must be returned to the U.S. Department of Treasury.” 

What advice do you share with agencies seeking grant funds?

With a thorough knowledge of grant processes at the federal and state levels, Kuhn told ATFN, “Whether you are a seasoned grant writer or are new to the world of federal grants, PS Grants can not only provide you with identifying multiple, potential funding sources for your project(s), but also assistance on seeking alternative methods of seeking funding sources, and helpful tips in writing a successful grant application.” Kuhn also stated, “Some of the methods that we share can be most helpful to smaller jurisdictions who are often overlooked due their rural status and being of a lower population.” Kuhn further shared, “We encourage folks interested in learning more about federal grants and how to access them to please visit us at Public Sector Grants to learn more about resources that we can provide in making grants more digestible.”

How can PS Grants help agencies?

ATFN asked Kuhn to explain what resources PS Grants can provide to agencies. “We offer several resources for the sole purpose of trying to simplify the grants process for state, local, and tribal entities,” she said. “These resources include monthly newsletters, identifying funding sources based on specific projects, assistance with navigating federal grant guidance documents, one-on-one calls, and presentation at the Vision Summit, as well as individual workshops.

Kuhn went on to share, “I will be at the  2024 Vision FirstNet Users Summit (Vision 2024) being held at Las Vegas’ Sahara Hotel October 7-10, 2024 where I will being doing a presentation and holding one-on-one federal grants sessions with attendees. There is no extra charge for taking part in these hour-long sessions for registered attendees, but availability is limited.” Vision 2024 is being hosted and organized by the Public Safety Broadband Technology Association.  

If you are already registered or are planning to attend the Vision 2024 conference, please take advantage of this opportunity to spend one-on-one time with Kamala Kuhn of PS Grants!