The Hudson Board of Selectmen voted unanimously at its most recent meeting to allow the Fire Department to move forward with applying for a federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), after Fire Chief Scott Tice informed the Board that the application window had opened unexpectedly and with a tight turnaround.
Tice told the Board that the department learned on May 19, 2026, that the new AFG grant round had opened “abruptly,” leaving just over a month to prepare and submit the application before the June 22 deadline. Because federal grants require formal authorization from the governing body before submission, the department needed the Board’s approval simply to begin the process.
“The proposal this evening is simply for permission to apply for the grant,” Tice wrote in a memo to the Selectmen, emphasizing that the request did not commit the town to accepting any funds.
Tice explained that if the department is awarded the grant, the Board would still need to hold a public hearing before deciding whether to accept the funding. This step is required for all federal grants and ensures residents have an opportunity to weigh in.
“Prior to accepting any grant if awarded, the Board would have the opportunity to hold a public hearing and decide whether we want to accept the funds,” Tice reiterated.
The Fire Department has benefited from AFG funding in the past, including support for mentalhealth checkups and advanced physicals for firefighters during the previous twoyear grant cycle. Tice said the department is still determining the exact items it will request this year, but early discussions point toward highpriority needs identified in the federal Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).
“We anticipate this request will include items under the categories of EMS, communications, and basic equipment that are categorized as highpriority,” Tice wrote. “This funding would support items that are not currently budgeted within our FY26 or FY27 budget.”
The AFG program typically covers 90 percent of approved costs, leaving the town responsible for the remaining 10 percent. To meet that match requirement, Tice recommended using existing resources rather than seeking new taxpayer funding.
The department plans to draw the town’s share from the EMS Revolving Fund, the Fire Equipment Capital Reserve Fund, and the Communications and Infrastructure Capital Reserve Fund.
Selectmen expressed support for the department’s proactive approach, noting that pursuing grant opportunities helps reduce the financial burden on taxpayers while ensuring the Fire Department has access to modern equipment and resources.
With the Board’s unanimous approval, the Fire Department will now begin preparing its application ahead of the June 22 deadline. If the grant is awarded, the proposal will return to the Board for a public hearing and final acceptance.