CERT founder

1. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Community EmergencyCommunity Emergency
Response TeamResponse Team
CERTCERT
Funding and GrantFunding and Grant
GuidanceGuidance

2. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
CERT Funding
 A variety of local approaches to obtaining funds.
 Some communities build costs into their budget while
others charge participants to cover costs for instructors
and course materials.
 In some communities, CERT organizations have filed
for 501(C)3 (non-profit organization) status, thus
allowing them to do fund raising.
 Grants to communities.

3. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Overall Goal of CERT Grant Program:
Organize, train, equip and maintain CERTs
Objectives for use of CERT funds are:
1. SEMO to conduct CERT T-t-T courses to
program managers and instructional
teams from communities to initiate or
expand CERT
2. For local governments to initiate,
organize, train and maintain CERTs
3. For communities with established CERT
programs to continue, maintain and
expand these programs

4. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Grant Eligibility Requirements
Grants are available to local units of
government and federally recognized
tribal governments.
For purposes of this Request for
Applications (RFA), local units of
government are “municipal corporations”
defined as county, town, city or village
under New York State Municipal Law.

5. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Federal Priority
Jurisdictions
Per FEMA, priority will be given to
applications submitted from:
– Local governments that have demonstrated a
commitment to family safety; or to
– Local governments that have a high risk
profile based on crime, disaster vulnerabilities,
and public health issues.

6. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Elements of a CERT Plan
Planned assignment and use of CERT
trained citizens in the community;
Identification and selection process for
CERT trainers or T-t-T candidates;
Scheduling of CERT T-t-T courses;
Identification of the target citizen audience
for community training;
Scheduling of community CERT training
and venue;
Maintenance of a CERT membership
database

7. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Evaluation of Applications
Applications will be evaluated regarding:
How clearly the proposed project meets
CERT purposes;
Means by which pool of potential CERT
volunteers are identified & recruited;
Nature of the activities to be performed,
cost and performance measures
associated with activities;

8. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Evaluation of Applications
Applications will be evaluated regarding:
Clear & realistic timetable for
implementing activities and achieving
objectives; and
Experience and expertise of implementing
agency and its instructors in conducting
CERT training

9. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Eligible Categories for CERT
grant funding include:
Instructor preparation and delivery time;
Program administration of CERT;
Creation and maintenance of CERT
database;
Rental of training facility;
CERT members’ hard hat, safety vest,
goggles, gloves and/or appropriate PPE.

10. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Eligible Categories for CERT
grant funding include:
Printing CERT material to include IG, SM,
job aids, brochures, certificates, postage,
etc.
Defraying the added expense of liability
coverage for new or expanded CERT
programs

11. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Suggestions / Tips for
Success!!!
 CERT funds are ONLY for CERT program;
 Do Not request funds for equipment/supplies
outside the scope of the CERT program;
 Program success will be dependent upon:
– “buy-in” from local executives and the emergency
response community; and
– the quality of the instructors conducting the CERT
training
 Write grant objectives and performance
measures to be accomplished within the stated
funding and performance period identified in the
RFA;

12. NYSEMO Version 1.0 Sept. 2003
Suggestions / Tips for
Success!!!
Read the guidance contained in the RFA
carefully and develop grant application
based on the guidance; and
 FINALLY: The next round of CERT
grants will likely be far more competitive
for limited dollars so the clarity of scope &
purpose as well as completeness of the
grant will be even more critical!!!