TN Department of Agriculture – Division of Forestry
Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) Wildland Fire Suppression Kits – 2026
Key facts
- Deadline
- Opens Nov 15, 2026 · due Dec 15, 2026
- Award size
- Not stated: see the official notice
- Match ?
- Not stated: check the official notice. The federal program behind it has match rules for some uses: read them. · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Volunteer fire or rescue department, Nonprofit with 501(c)(3), Nonprofit without 501(c)(3), Special district (utility, fire, etc.), City or town government, County government
- Where
- Anywhere in Tennessee
Opening soon: the funder has announced this grant, but you can't apply yet. Use the time to get ready and check whether it fits.
Before you apply: Tennessee state agencies usually require you to be registered as a supplier in the state's Edison system before they can pay a grant. Ask the program contact, and register early. Get-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Tipton County
- Population limit in the notice: “fire departments serving populations under 10,000”. Check that yours qualifies
- Past Tennessee awards of the federal program behind it (all its uses): 18
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
About this grant
Official notice: https://www.tn.gov/tnwildlandfire/suppression/vfa.html · Printed from grantme.click/grants/15baa71f-4ded-4fdd-9bde-30e011a79d84
Application (opens Nov 15, 2026) Add dates to my calendar
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Nov24
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Dec8
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Dec12
Submit
Suggested: submit a few days early in case the form or email has trouble. - Dec15
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Writing the need statement? Tipton County facts with citations.
Who in Tennessee has won the federal program behind it
This grant is paid from federal program 10.664, which also pays for other work. These groups won that program, not necessarily this grant.
1 award to Tennessee groups since 2024 · 0 in Tipton County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | $1.8M spent that year | 2025 |
Source: Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through Tennessee Department of Agriculture
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. In Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Agriculture passes it on: watch that agency for applications, not the federal agency. 17 pass-through grants on file · 0 in Tipton County. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council | Johnson City, Washington County | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | $250K | 2024 |
| Tennessee Forestry Foundation Inc | Nashville, Davidson County | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | $245K | 2024 |
| Appalachian Resource Conservation & Development Council | Johnson City, Washington County | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | $234K spent that year | 2024 |
| Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council | Johnson City, Washington County | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | $199K | 2023 |
| Cumberland River Compact, Inc. | Nashville, Davidson County | National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | $197K | 2024 |
| Tennessee Forestry Foundation Inc | Nashville, Davidson County | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | $108K | 2023 |
| Tennessee Forestry Foundation Inc | Nashville, Davidson County | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | $108K | 2023 |
| Tennessee Urban Forestry Council | Nashville, Davidson County | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | $83K | 2023 |
| Tennessee Urban Forestry Council | Nashville, Davidson County | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | $83K | 2023 |
| Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council | Johnson City, Washington County | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | $80K | 2023 |
| Emergency Service Specialists International LLC | Kingston, Roane County | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | $58K | 2024 |
| Emergency Service Specialists International LLC | Kingston, Roane County | Tennessee Department of Agriculture | $58K | 2023 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
Similar grants open or opening soon
From other funders, about the same kind of work in Tipton County.
- Fire department, AED, smoke detector and youth firesetter grants · Firefighters Charitable Foundation · No deadline listed: see the official notice
- K9 Grant Program (trained dogs for police, fire, schools and hospitals) · K9s4COPs · No deadline listed: see the official notice
- Personal Safety Systems (bailout gear) grants for fire departments · Lt. Joseph P. DiBernardo Memorial Foundation · Opens Jan 1, 2027 · due about Jun 30, 2027 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Spirit of Blue Safety Grant Program (law enforcement officer safety equipment) · Spirit of Blue Foundation · No deadline listed: see the official notice
More from TN Department of Agriculture – Division of Forestry
- Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Assistance & Community Education Grants – 2027 cycle · Opens Oct 15, 2026 · due Nov 15, 2026
- TAEP Forest Establishment & Improvement Cost Share · No deadline listed: see the official notice
- Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Start-up Grant · No deadline listed: see the official notice
- Cost Share for Forest Industry (TAEP BMP and SPBI First Commercial Thinning) · No deadline listed: see the official notice
- Southern Pine Beetle Initiative (SPBI) Landowner Cost Share · No deadline listed: see the official notice
About the federal program
Cooperative Forestry Assistance
Program number 10.664 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service · Formula grant (amounts set by a formula), project grant