The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workforce grants to provide funding for enhancing and training Michigan EMS workforce personnel.

The focus of the program is to continue and expand the workforce development program used for training people in EMS. The intent is to address the critical shortage of paramedics statewide and increase accessibility by reducing barriers to enrollment in EMS education programming, specifically paramedic programs.

MDHHS has identified several potential uses for funding:

• Traditional grants to cover costs of tuition and associated fees for paramedic training at a Michigan-approved education program, limited to:
  • $20,000 per paramedic student.
  • $1,500 per emergency medical technician specialist student.
  • $2,000 per emergency medical technician student.
  • $500 per medical first responder/emergency medical responder student.
  • $2,000 per instructor student.
• Hourly reimbursement for time spent in EMS training programs at a rate of $15/hour to a maximum of:
  • $16,000 per paramedic student.
  • $2,100 per emergency medical technician specialist student.
  • $3,000 per emergency medical technician student.
  • $900 per medical first responder/emergency medical responder student.
  • $2,600 per instructor coordinator student.

EMS Education Access grants may be funded in the following potential categories:

1. Expansion and increased access to EMS education to areas currently not served by initial education programs. Applicants will be responsible for demonstrating how their proposal increases access to an underserved area.
2. Barrier reduction efforts, if the proposal specifically outlines how the funding request will decrease barriers to enrollment or student success.
3. Outreach campaigns to increase student enrollment in EMS training programs.

The award period begins Oct. 1, 2024, and ends Sept. 30, 2025.  MDHHS expects to award approximately $9 million, with a maximum award of $400,000 per applicant. 

Project director requests to get access to the application are due by 5 p.m., Thursday, May 23. Grant applications must be submitted electronically through the EGrAMS system by 3 p.m., Thursday, May 30.

A pre-application conference will be held to discuss this funding opportunity and provide instruction on using the EGrAMS system at 11 a.m., Monday, April 8, and will last approximately 90 minutes. The webinar can be accessed at https://bit.ly/42JnY7S. At the conclusion of the conference, this link can be used to access the recording of this webinar.  

Any questions concerning the content of this RFP must be sent by email at mdhhs-ems-grants@michigan.gov on or before Thursday, April 11. Questions may be discussed verbally at the pre-application conference. MDHHS will compile all relevant questions and answers and post these as well as any other clarifications or revisions to the initial RFP by Wednesday, April 17, on the EGrAMS website.

For more information or to apply, visit the EGrAMS website and select "About EGrAMS" link in the left panel to access the "Competitive Application Instructions" training manual. The complete RFP can be accessed under the ‘Current Grants’ section under the “Public Health Administration” link and selecting the “WEMSS-2025” grant program.