VFIS of Texas/Texas Mutual Insurance Company Health and Wellness Grant is sponsored by VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company. This need-based grant program supports fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations in Texas, encouraging participation in health and wellness programs to reduce emergency responder injuries and deaths.

Grants are awarded based on financial need, and approved departments are reimbursed for expended funds.

Grant Information - VFIS of Texas Accidental Death & Disability Group Term Life Insurance Cyber Liability Insurance Cancer & Critical Illness Mental Health Assistance Programs Texas First Responder Employee Benefit Interlocal HB471 (88th Regular Session) Burn & Accident Insurance 2026 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant Recipients ESO Administrative Operations Mutual Aid Self-Assessment VFIS HR Help & Best Practices Help Line Junior Member Programs and Guidelines >> Mutual Aid Self-Assessment 2026 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant - *CLOSED* VFIS of Texas and Texas Mutual Insurance Company are once again pleased to sponsor a need-based Health & Wellness Grant program for fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations in Texas.

Grants up to $5,000 will be awarded based on financial need and are intended to assist emergency service organizations in developing a health & wellness program to prevent emergency responder deaths and injuries and for cancer prevention. Departments will need to apply for the grant, expend the funds and then send in copies of receipts in order to receive the grant funds. Grant Application Deadline is December 31, 2025 .

All-volunteer or mostly-volunteer fire departments and non-profit EMS organizations that serve a population of 100,000 or less and are legally organized in Texas. Cost for member physicals, exercise equipment, nutritionist, rehab equipment, hoods with barrier protection, decon cloths/wipes, washable gloves, extractors/dryers for turn-out gear or other health & wellness and cancer prevention items.

Departments should apply for assistance (completed grant application, attached quote for items/services, & signed W-9) by December 31, 2025. Applications will be reviewed and notice will be sent to those awarded a grant by January 31, 2026. Departments will be responsible for sending in paid receipts by May 1, 2026 in order to receive reimbursement Any grant questions, please contact Gabriel Cooper at [email protected] or 512-225-0987.

**2026 APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED** 2026 Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program (HB 3667) - NOW OPEN! The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Insurance Program (HB 3667) is a grant program designed to reimburse eligible volunteer fire departments for the purchase of insurance from private insurance companies.

Eligible coverage includes any combination of compensation insurance for firefighters (workers’ compensation, accidental death and dismemberment, group term life, accident and sickness, and/or cancer-related insurance) purchased from Texas insurance companies. The program will reimburse 100% of the actual cost of eligible insurance coverage up to a maximum of $330 per fire department member.

Recognized, non-profit volunteer fire departments operated by its members are eligible. Any part-paid/part-volunteer department is also eligible, provided the number of paid members is 20 or less. Departments may enter into agreements with cities or counties in order to qualify for coverage and/or special premiums.

All eligible departments must participate in a firefighter certification program administered under Section 419. 071 of the Texas Government Code (Texas Commission on Fire Protection), or by the State Firemen’s and Fire Marshal’s Association of Texas (SFFMA), or by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG). The policy or payment documents must show the policy number, the cost or premium amount and the coverage period.

All required reimbursement documents must accompany the 2026 grant application form. Applications, either complete or incomplete, arriving after July 31, 2026 are not eligible for reimbursement. ONLY ONE application per department will be reimbursed for the enrollment period of November 2025 thru July 2026.

The program will reimburse 100% of the actual cost of eligible insurance coverage, up to a maximum of $335 per fire department member covered in the calendar year 2026. APPLY TODAY on FireConnect Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Program (HB 2604) The Rural Volunteer Fire Department Assistance Program provides vital funding to help Texas volunteer fire departments better serve and protect their communities.

Through this program, eligible departments can receive support for: Fire and rescue equipment Protective clothing and gear Volunteer recruitment resources Emergency assistance following catastrophic events and declared disasters Recognized, non-profit volunteer fire departments operated by their members are eligible to apply. Part-paid/part-volunteer departments with 20 or fewer paid members may also qualify.

Departments must: Be recognized by the State of Texas and in good standing Operate within an assigned primary protection area (no overlaps) Meet additional federal requirements if receiving federal funds Created by the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001, this program has been instrumental in providing training, vehicles, and equipment that many departments would otherwise not have access to.

Because of its importance to Texas fire service, request volume far exceeds annual funding—but the program continues to make a significant difference in strengthening fire protection across the state. Special Announcement – New Legislative Funding Next Funding Meeting – Tentatively Scheduled for October 14 FY25 program updates and changes.

Active Declared State of Disaster Grants 253 – Heavy Rainfall and Flooding | 7/2/25 – 9/30/25 254 – Increased Fire Weather | 8/12/25 – 9/14/25 ​ Texas Department of State Health Services The DSHS Office of Emergency Medical Services Trauma System Coordination is responsible for managing Local Projects Grant (LPG) funding.

Eligible organizations include department licensed EMS providers, department registered first responder organizations, Regional EMS/Trauma Advisory Councils (RACs), approved EMS education organizations, and pre-hospital injury prevention organizations.

Funding is available for EMS personnel certification training, specialty training related to pre-hospital health care management, communication equipment, patient care equipment and non-disposable supplies, injury-prevention projects, continuing education programs and the purchase of an ambulance. For more information, click here .

Assistance to Firefighters Grant The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical services organizations.

Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards. The Office of Grants and Training in the Department of Homeland Security administers the grants in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.

For fiscal year 2005, Congress reauthorized the Assistance to Firefighters Grants for an additional 5 years through 2010. For more information, click here. ( www.

firegrantsupport. com/afg/ ) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response The purpose of the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants is to help fire departments increase the number of frontline firefighters.

The goal is for fire departments to increase their staffing and deployment capabilities and ultimately attain 24-hour staffing, thus assuring that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. The SAFER grants support two specific activities: (1) the hiring of firefighters, and (2) recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.

The hiring of firefighters activity provides grants to pay for part of the salaries of newly hired firefighters over the 5-year program. SAFER is part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants and is under the purview of the Office of Grants and Training of the Department of Homeland Security. For more information, click here.

( www. firegrantsupport. com/safer/ ).

Governor's Extraordinary Emergency Fund Funding is available to support the emergent, unexpected needs of EMS providers or DSHS-approved organizations. Proposals are evaluated based on impact to the regional or statewide EMS/trauma system. Eligible applications include licensed EMS providers, registered first responder organizations and licensed hospitals.

For more information, click here . 13625 Ronald W. Reagan Blvd.

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Accidental Death & Disability Group Term Life Insurance Cyber Liability Insurance Cancer & Critical Illness Mental Health Assistance Programs Texas First Responder Employee Benefit Interlocal HB471 (88th Regular Session) Burn & Accident Insurance 2026 Emergency Responder Health & Wellness Grant Recipients ESO Administrative Operations Mutual Aid Self-Assessment VFIS HR Help & Best Practices Help Line Junior Member Programs and Guidelines