A row of red fire trucks labeled “BEDFORD FIRE DEPT. COMPANY 1” is parked neatly inside a fire station garage. The trucks face outward beneath a high ceiling with overhead doors and yellow-striped parking lines. Emergency tools and equipment are visible, highlighting the department’s readiness and organization.

Aid to Localities Grant

Supporting Localities in the Commonwealth with Providing Financial Aid

Aid to Localities Grant

Four sets of firefighter gear hang neatly on a wall-mounted rack against a gray concrete block wall. Each set includes a red helmet, tan fire-resistant jacket with reflective yellow and silver stripes, and a green radio clipped to the chest. One jacket displays the number '477' on its sleeve, and another includes a breathing mask hanging below the helmet—signaling readiness and protection. Essential protective equipment

Aid to Localities (ATL) known as the Virginia Fire Programs Fund (Fund) is a crucial resource, sourced from one percent of fire-related insurance coverage.

This fund is dedicated to supporting localities in the commonwealth by providing financial aid where it's needed most. Approximately 75 percent of the total fund is allocated directly to counties, cities, and incorporated towns within Virginia.

ATL allocations are population-based and can be used for a range of essential fire services and initiatives.

How ATL Funds Can Be Allocated

These funds can be allocated to jurisdictions* for the sole purpose of the following:

Training volunteer or career firefighting personnel in each of the receiving localities.
Funding fire prevention and public safety education programs.
Constructing, improving and expanding regional or local fire service training facilities.
Purchasing emergency medical care and equipment for fire personnel.
Payment of personnel costs related to fire and medical training for fire personnel; or For purchasing personal protective equipment, vehicles, equipment and supplies for use in the receiving locality specifically for fire service purposes.
Diesel exhaust removal systems, decontamination equipment, and commercial extractors, that are designed to reduce the incidence of cancer among firefighters

*ATL Funds allocated to the jurisdictions cannot be used directly or indirectly to supplant or replace any other funds appropriated by the counties, cities and towns for fire service operations.

Review ATL Grant Policy

How to Apply

To be eligible for ATL allocation, jurisdictions must annually complete and submit an Annual Report to VDFP.

This report must detail the prior year’s ATL usage, including:

Cash carry forward from previous funding years (if applicable)
Current ATL funding for the year being reported
Qualifying expenditures for the current funding year
Cash carry forward balance into future reporting years (if applicable)
Tentative spend plan for carry forward balances (if applicable)

Download Annual Report for ATL

FAQs for Aid to Localities Grant

Eligible organizations can apply for the Aid to Localities Grant by downloading and completing the Annual Report and Disbursement Agreement forms. Before applying, it is recommended you review the ATL Policy first.

Applications are reviewed monthly, unless otherwise noted and can be mailed to the address below.

Grants Unit
Virginia Department of Fire Programs Administration
1005 Technology Park Drive Glen Allen, VA 23059-4500

Localities may also submit their grant applications for the Aid to Localities Grant electronically by emailing them to grants@vdfp.virginia.gov.
If a jurisdiction does not submit a satisfactory Annual Report and a complete Disbursement Agreement form by the end of the annual reporting period, they will not receive ATL funds for the next year. These funds will be retained in the Fund.

Jurisdictions must maintain accounting documentation (e.g., General Ledger reports, bank statements, or detailed spreadsheets) for audit purposes.
Jurisdictions that fail to submit the required documents will forfeit their allocated amount. This forfeited amount will be retained in the Fund and distributed to localities in the next allocation cycle.

Properly completed forms received from a jurisdiction by…	…will have its ATL funds released by VDFP for transfer by…
Mid-August	Mid-September
Mid- November	Mid-December
Mid-February	Mid-March
Mid-May	Mid-June

Resources for Aid to Localities

New Reporting Option in FY25. The annual report and disbursement agreements can be submitted via email to grants@vdfp.virginia.gov.

FY2026 Audit Sheets

Contact Us

For any questions about the Aid to Localities grant, please submit a Contact Us Inquiry or send an email to grants@vdfp.virginia.gov.