INDIANA — Public safety entities across Indiana have one week left to secure critical funding to maintain and repair their training facilities and equipment.
The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) Indiana Fire and Public Safety Academy is actively accepting applications for its Fiscal Year 2026 Local Training Support (LTS) Grant. Local agencies have until June 30, 2026, to submit their requests.
The state-funded LTS grant program is designed to strengthen local training capacities by covering the costs of essential upkeep, maintenance, and repairs for training structures, equipment, and props specifically used in state-funded fire service training. Eligible departments can apply for a maximum award of up to $10,000.
Who Can Apply?
Funding is open to recognized public safety entities operating within Indiana, including:
- Career fire departments
- Combination fire departments
- Volunteer fire departments
- Dedicated training centers or regional training sites
To qualify, applicants must have hosted or supported state-funded training courses within the past year. They must also provide clear documentation proving that the equipment or facility in question is actively used for training and that the requested maintenance aligns with state training objectives.
Application Requirements
Departments planning to apply must meet several compliance and reporting benchmarks. Application submissions must include:
- Reporting Compliance: Agencies must be fully NFIRS (National Fire Incident Reporting System) and NEMSIS (National EMS Information System) compliant.
- Project Description: A detailed outline specifying the exact maintenance or repair need.
- Cost Proof: A formal vendor quote or cost estimate for the project.
- Justification: A brief explanation of how the repair or upkeep directly supports the delivery of state-funded training.
- Agency Data: Department personnel numbers (response personnel totals) and current operational and training budget information.
Additionally, participating agencies must ensure they are properly registered as both a supplier and a bidder with the State of Indiana to facilitate the contract and payment process.
How to Apply
The performance period for the upcoming grant cycle is scheduled to run from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2027.
The application must be completed through the state’s IntelliGrants portal. For full details, including the detailed Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), departments can visit the official IDHS Grants webpage. Specific questions or technical support needs can be directed to the agency by submitting a fire/grants support ticket through the IDHS portal.
