1. Proposal for Youth Opportunity Program
A Division of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue

2. February 24, 2014
Denis Leary
President
The Leary Firefighters Foundation
594 Broadway, Suite 409
New York, NY 10012
(212) 343-0240
Dear Mr. Leary,
On behalf of the Executive staff, I am honored to submit the following proposal
requesting consideration of a grant for $50,000 to the Youth Opportunity Program initiated by
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. This will assist us in expanding our current training center to
a new facility which will allow members of the low-income community an opportunity to receive
free training to become a career firefighter.
Established in 1950, the mission of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is to provide
effective quality service at a reasonable cost with courtesy, integrity and accountability in a
manner that protects and enhances the quality of life of our diverse population. This mission is
currently being fulfilled through programs and training, operated in a small antiquated facility
which has been outgrown by our advancing department.
The need for our new training facility is paramount for the advancement of Hillsborough
County Fire Rescue to help work in the community. The Department of Fire Rescue has a goal
of creating a large training facility, capable of training new firefighters, EMTs, and Paramedics.
This will allow a more diversified applicant pool, who would not normally be able to afford the
high tuition costs from a State college.
Because of your commitment to increasing the training and safety of career firefighters,
we sincerely hope that the Leary Firefighters Foundation will join us as our partner in this
important program. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (813) 876-
5432. We deeply appreciate your consideration of our request and look forward to hearing from
you in October, if not before.
Sincerely,
Lt. Michael Davis
Training and Development

3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue respectfully requests the consideration of The Leary
Firefighters Foundation of a grant in the amount of $50,000 for our Youth Opportunity Program
support. Your gift will aid in the creation of a new training facility, which will be utilized for the
training of new firefighters.
A recent study performed by Hillsborough County showed that there is a reduced number
of minorities in the fire service. The reasoning, Officials found, is the cost of the initial training.
The Fire Academy has a cost of $4100, and financial aid usually does not cover the cost, because
the Fire Academy is considered Vocational school. By having their own training center,
Hillsborough County can aid the lower income families who want to be employed by
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue can save these families
money by providing the classes at a significantly reduced cost, while grooming the next
generation of employees.
The need is great, because there are over 160 personnel who are scheduled to retire in the
year 2016, and another 80 scheduled to retire in 2020. This is in addition to the periodical
retirements throughout the years. This mass exodus creates a large gap in employees from every
rank from Firefighter to Administrative Chief.
Established in 1950, the mission of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is to provide
effective quality service at a reasonable cost with courtesy, integrity and accountability in a
manner that protects and enhances the quality of life of our diverse population.
Currently Hillsborough County Fire Rescue has a teaching partnership with Learey
Technical Center, a division of Hillsborough County Schools division, which allows seasoned
employees of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue to become Training Instructors for the various
training needed for employees. These instructors are State of Florida certified, and have a
minimum work experience of six years in the fire service.
The Leary Firefighters Foundation’s grant of $50,000 will aid in the creation of state
certified programs which will allow low-income citizens the opportunity to train and become
State of Florida firefighters, at no cost to them. The programs will be federally funded through
grants after the initial development.
Because of the Leary Firefighters Foundation’s commitment to fire department
development and community diversity, we sincerely hope that you will join us as our partner in
this vital work. Your gift of $50,000 will have a tremendous impact on the community, and it
will provide comfort to those who cannot afford the education needed to serve the community.
Thank you for your consideration of our request.

4. STATEMENTOF THE NEED
The need for a training facility, like the one Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is planning on
constructing, is an incredible need for the community. Firefighting has not been the career
choice for African American or Hispanic male or females in the past. Historically speaking,
most firefighters who were hired were relatives or friends of another firefighter or local
politician. The Fire Department was a unique men’s club. Established in 1950, Hillsborough
County Fire Department had only Caucasian employees. The first African American firefighter
was hired in 1975 by Hillsborough County Fire Department. The community did not accept this
change initially either. A cross was burned in the front yard of the Fire Station where the
African American firefighter was assigned.
Things have changed, to an extent. There are more African Americans and Hispanic
firefighters, but not enough to show the diversity of the community. The community has
embraced the hiring of minorities. In fact, parts of the community would like more Hispanic and
African American employees, to help relate to their language and lifestyles.
Why is there such a need for minority representation? Hillsborough County is a melting
pot of diverse heritage and traditions. There are seasonal migrant workers, Cuban refugees, low-
income housing, middle-class workers, and upper-class citizens all living in close proximity.
The fact of the matter is, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue responds with the same trained
personnel to each of these citizens when they call for help.
In certain areas of Hillsborough County there is a language barrier between Spanish
speaking citizens and Public Safety personnel. This barrier can cause a reduction in services
rendered, as the care givers are unable to determine the full need of the citizens. This
communication breakdown is another reason for the diversification of Hillsborough County
employees.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue maintains 42 Fire Stations and one Rescue Station, and
equips more than 980 career firefighters, paramedics and staff in addition to approximately 160
reserve responders. HCFR also provides fire prevention inspections, fire investigations, fire
safety programs and safety training to the public. Hillsborough County services an area of 931
square miles and a population of 832,340.
The training department is attempting to fix the need of diverse employees. The County
Administrators requested a report explaining why the employees do not represent the diverse
community, the results were not what they were expected to be. The following are the results:
 The applicant pool did not have a diverse number of potential employees.
 The schools, who graduate firefighters, did not have a diverse graduate pool.

5.  The communities, which represent the diversity of the County, could not afford to attend
school. The schools are not eligible for financial aid, due to the education non-degree
seeking.
After speaking with local colleges, it was decided to create our own training classes, open
to anyone who applies, to training the next generation firefighters. Through a teaching
partnership with Learey Technical Center, a division of Hillsborough County Schools division,
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue allows seasoned employees to become Training Instructors for
the various training needed for employees. These instructors are State of Florida certified, and
have a minimum work experience of six years in the fire service. However, the lack of an
adequate training facility has proven a problem with the training department.
The need for our new training facility is paramount for the advancement of Hillsborough
County Fire Rescue to help work in the community. The Department of Fire Rescue has a goal
of creating a large training facility, capable of training new firefighters, EMTs, and Paramedics.
This will allow a more diversified applicant pool, who would not normally be able to afford the
high tuition costs from a State college. Additional training would be used for the Technical
Rescue Team and Hazardous Incident Team members in a special area designed as a Confined
Space and Structural Collapse simulator. A dedicated Emergency Vehicle driving course would
be setup as well.

6. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goal for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is to provide the training for under-
privileged low-income candidates, who have a desire to work as a Public Servant.
To address this need, the overall goals of the Youth Opportunity Program are:
1. To find good quality candidates who are willing to be work as a public servant.
2. Train the candidates in accordance to the State of Florida standards.
3. Upon completion of training, employ the candidates as career firefighters.
To fulfill this goal, the following objective will be achieved by 2016:
1. Build a training facility which provides free training to candidates from low-income
areas.
2. Recruit low-income members of the community into the program.
3. Create a State of Florida approved curriculum.
4. Interview and hire State of Florida certified Fire Instructors.
5. Employ candidates as career firefighters.

7. METHODS
Our primary objective in 2016, for the Diversity Improvement Program through specified
training will employ the methods as outlined below. These methods have been proven
successful as they are the same methods utilized in other large Fire Rescue departments such as
Phoenix Fire Department, New York City Fire Department and Baltimore Fire Department.
To increase the minority employee ratio, to meet a true representation of the population
of Hillsborough County, by building a Training facility where low-income citizens may get the
required training to become a career firefighter.
 Hillsborough County Fire Rescue will research the community’s need for diversity of
employees who serve the public.
 The Training Division of Hillsborough County will work in collaboration with the
Executive Staff to:
 Interview and screen candidates who are interested in the program
 Address the training needs and challenges associated with organizing the lesson
plans and objectives skills.
 Verify the lessons and objectives are in-line with the State of Florida Fire
Standards.
 Finalize the training curriculum.
 Develop the new Training Facility building blueprints
 Acquire property and build the new training center.
 Recruit candidates and begin the classes.
 Once officially launched, the Executive Staff, in coordination with the Board of County
Commissioners, will formally chart the progress of each participant, noting the specific
benchmarks along the way as established in the evaluation.

8. EVALUATION
Evaluation of diversified employees of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue will offer
opportunities to measure the long-term outcomes, in representing accurately, the demographics
of the population. The Training Division will measure the diverse applicant pool, and review the
quality of these applicants as compared to other applicants. The Executive Staff will aid in the
evaluation of low-income applicants, who show expressed interest in becoming employees, but
are financial unable to obtain the required schooling. Resulting data will be reviewed and
candidates will be selected to join the new training program. A physical assessment will be
performed, as required for all employees. The candidates who pass the evaluation process will
then be selected to begin the training required as a firefighter.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, the Training Department will need to
evaluate the average pass/fail ratio of the local colleges and technical schools. This will give an
appropriate baseline of what to expect of completed candidates. The comparison of the average
pass/fail ratio versus the actual results of the new program will show whether the program is
adequate. Ideally, the pass/fail ratio should be better than the average, which will show the
instructors and curriculum is being delivered in an effective manner. The program will be
scheduled to run 4 months long, therefore two classes will be offered every year. An evaluation
of each class will be performed, to ensure the training is continually evolving with the State
Standards. The goal is to produce well trained employees, who represent the diverse community
population.

9. Revenue and Expense Budget
CASH REQUIRED
IN-KIND
CONTRIBUTIONS TOTAL BUDGET
REVENUE
Foundations $100,000 $100,000
Government $1,500,000 $1,500,000
Corporations $250,000 $250,000
Individual contributions $25,000 $25,000
Donated printing
and supplies
$75,000 $75,000
Volunteer services
Other (specify):
Total revenue $1,775,000 $225,000 $1,950,000
EXPENSES
Salaries (prorated if less
than full time)
$800,000 $800,000
Training Chief $60,000
Training Officers (7) $350,000
Adjunct Instructors (15) $390,000
Payroll taxes and benefits
(percentage of salaries)
$150,000 $150,000
Bookkeeping contractor $75,000 $75,000
Other (specify):
Total personnel $1,025,000 $1,025,000
Office rent (% for program) $80,000 $80,000
Supplies $800,000 $800,000
Printing $25,000 $25,000
Utilities $34,000 $34,000
Telephone $5,000 $5,000
Copy services $18,000 $18,000
Postage $2,000 $2,000
Travel $11,000 $11,000
Membership dues
Other (specify):
Total nonpersonnel $975,000 $975,000
Total expenses $2,000,000 $2,000,000

10. PROJECTSUSTAINABILITY
The total budget required to support the Youth Opportunity Program is $2,000,000. Additional details of
the budget are described below:
Expected Sources of Funding
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue has outlined several funding sources that will ensure the sustainability
of the services it provides to the community. The following is a list of committed funding for the year:
Hillsborough County Government $ 1,500,000
Corporate Sponsorships $ 250,000
Individuals $ 25,000
Total $ 1,775,000
In addition to the above, we have in-kind goods and services revenue of $ 100,000 and interest of
$75,000. We are looking for private sector funders to provide an additional $50,000 needed to run an
effective program in the service of the community.
Executive Training Chief Salary - $90,000
The Executive Training Chief is essential to the success of the Youth Opportunity Program,thus
requiring a salary that takes into consideration the responsibility involved in leading a highly visible
program. The amount covers the salary and benefits for one full-time director to manage the program for
one year. Responsibilities will include leading the day-to-day operations of the program, managing a 7
full-time Training Officers and 15 Adjunct Instructors, developing and managing program initiatives and
performance,and ensuring that all fiscal responsibilities are met.

11. ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND
Currently Hillsborough County Fire Rescue has a teaching partnership with Learey
Technical Center, a division of Hillsborough County Schools division, which allows seasoned
employees of Hillsborough County Fire Rescue to become Training Instructors for the various
training needed for employees. These instructors are State of Florida certified, and have a
minimum work experience of six years in the fire service.
With your help, we will expand our training capabilities to include a program for low-
income families. A recent study performed by Hillsborough County showed that there is a
reduced number of minorities in the fire service. The reasoning, Officials found, is the cost of
the initial training. The Fire Academy has a cost of $4100, and financial aid usually does not
cover the cost, because the Fire Academy is considered Vocational school. By having their own
training center, Hillsborough County can aid the lower income families who want to be
employed by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue can save
these families money by providing the classes at a significantly reduced cost, while grooming the
next generation of employees.
In 2016 there are over 160 personnel who are scheduled to retire, and another 80
scheduled to retire in 2020. This is in addition to the periodical retirements throughout the years.
This mass exodus creates a large gap in employees from every rank from Firefighter to
Administrative Chief.