NEEDA - National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association

The Social Security Administration (SSA) continues to send out an unprecedented number of no-match letters informing companies of Social Security numbers that do not match the names submitted. When the SSA cannot match income reported to the appropriate social security number (SSN) the funds are placed in a suspension file, which has grown to a surprising $280 billion.

The SSA estimates that they will send out 750,000 no-match letters, up from 110,000 last year. In previous years one in sixty employers would receive such a letter whereas this year one in nine, or 11.5% of all employers will receive a no-match letter.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced its plans to enforce fine provisions against employers who incorrectly report SSN on W-2s.

There are "safe harbors" for employers to allow for waiver of penalties who act with due diligence. If an employer has reason to believe that a W-4 has an incorrect SSN, the employer should present another W-4 to the employee and ask for corrected information. The employer must document this request.

The Social Security Administration and Internal Revenue Service are working closer together to clamp down on the use of wrong Social Security Administration nunbers. Companies may be fined, but can get fines waived if they document that they shifted the burden to the employee.

When the SSA cannot match income reported to the appropriate social security number (SSN) the funds are placed in a suspension file, which has grown to a surprisingly huge $280 billion!

US FIRE ADMINISTRATION RELEASES 281 MATCHING FIRE ACT GRANTS TOTALLING $23 MILLION; 75 DEPARTMENTS RECEIVE MONEY TO PURCHASE FIRE VEHICLES
Originally Posted: July 22, 2002 5:47 PM
Last Updated: July 22, 2002 5:47 PM

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Director Joe Allbaugh and United States Fire Administration (USFA) Administrator R. David Paulison announced July 22, 2002 the second group of Assistance for Firefighters Grant Award recipients. These 281 departments will receive approximately $23M in support for their fire service programs and personnel. This is the second in a series of announcements. In this particular announcement the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Award program will provide grants for the purchase of approximately 75 new fire apparatus.

For more information about Fire Act matching grants, use the "search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA NEWSLETTER screen.

AMERICAN LAFRANCE OPENS $12 MILLION, 283,000 SQUARE FOOT HQ AND MANUFACTURING PLANT IN NORTH CARLESTON SC FOR FIRE TRUCK AND AMBULANCE PRODUCTION
Originally Posted: July 22, 2002 4:12 PM
Last Updated: July 22, 2002 10:02 PM

American LaFrance Corporation -- 170 years old -- opened new headquarters and a 283,500 square-foot manufacturing plant in North Charleston, SC.

According to the Associated Press: "Freightliner will move its 210-employee American LaFrance fire truck unit in Cleveland, NC to North Charleston by 2003."

NEEDA NEWSLETTER has run previous news items about this project. For more info on American LaFrance and Freightliner, use the “search” application on the upper right of your NEEDA NEWSLETTER screen.

American LaFrance, a subsidiary of Freightliner (Portland OR), produces and distributes fire and emergency apparatus including chassis, aerials, ambulances, pumpers, rescues, tankers, wildland vehicles, fire pumps, emergency medical products, and fire and rescue equipment.

Freightliner (Portland OR) is a manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks in North America and is part of Daimler Chrysler.

LUVERNE, PART OF SPARTAN MOTORS, BUYS AURAGEN ELECTROMAGNETIC POWER GENERATORS TO PRODUCE 8500 WATTS AT LOW ENGINE SPEED IN FIRE AND RESCUE VEHICLES
Originally Posted: July 22, 2002 9:45 AM
Last Updated: July 22, 2002 9:45 AM

Luverne Fire Apparatus has begun offering AuraGen(R) power-generating system as an option on all its fire trucks and rescue vehicles. AuraGen is made by Aura Systems, Inc. (El Segundo CA).

The AuraGen(R) system is integrated into the emergency vehicle and mounted either on the chassis or in the engine compartment, freeing up space traditionally used by the generator. This placement provides room for rescue and emergency tools and allows emergency personnel at the scene of a fire or accident to access them.

Luverne Fire Apparatus manufactures pumpers, tankers, and rescue vehicles. Luverne, part of Spartan Motors, Inc builds custom chassis for RVs, fire trucks, and ambulances. Spartan Motors also owns fire and rescue vehicle manufacturers Quality Manufacturing Co. and Road Rescue, Inc.

Spartan Motors is a supporter of the National Emergency Equipment Dealers Association. For more information about Luverne and Spartan, use the "search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA newsletter screen.

FIRST SEVENTY-TWO FIRE ACT MATCHING GRANT AWARDS: ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, ILLINOIS, KANSAS, NEBRASKA AND WYOMING WIN AWARDS TO BUY NEW FIREFIGHTING VEHICLES
Originally Posted: July 12, 2002 10:39 AM
Last Updated: July 12, 2002 11:01 AM

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA) awarded the first 72 Assistance to Firefighters Grant matching awards. The USFA, which does all the work in awarding these grants, is a part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Local communities must match the Federal award dollar for dollar and may not reduce their firefighting expenditures and thus are required to spend Federal funds on acquisitions or programs they would not have been able to afford without Federal help.

These awards will be used to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, fire fighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, EMS programs, and fire prevention and safety programs.

FEMA will be announcing a total of 5500 grants over the next five months. The total of all awards will represent a $360 million investment in fire and EMS service delivery throughout the United States. The $360 million was appropriated by Congress last year and represents an increase over the $100 million appropriated in the first year of this new grant program.

The first 72 awards in 2002 provide $3.9 million in Federal matching grant funds to 72 departments.

FEMA Director Joe M. Allbaugh: "Through this award program, President Bush has provided FEMA the opportunity to improve significantly the safety of these men and woman, and the Fire and EMS services they provide to Americans."

More than 19,900 fire departments - volunteer and career - applied for grants this year, submitting requests totaling approximately $2.98 billion.

The grants, authorized by Congress, will be used to assist rural, urban and suburban fire Departments, in all 50 states. The FY2002 grant applications have been through a peer review by over 300 representatives of fire service organizations.

For the complete list of grant recipients click on this Newsletter headline. For more information about Fire Act Grants, use the "Search" application in the upper right of your NEEDA NEWSLETTER screen.

Here below are those grants which will help pay for new firefighting vehicles.

ARIZONA

Gila River Fire Department Firefighting Vehicle $187,290

CALIFORNIA

Butte Valley Fire Protection District Firefighting Vehicle $195,777

FLORIDA

Lake Iamonia Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept. Firefighting Vehicle $117,900

ILLINOIS

City of Red Bud Community Fire Co. Firefighting Vehicle $175,500

KANSAS
Osborne County RFD #1 Firefighting Vehicle $175,500

NEBRASKA

Concord Volunteer Fire Department Firefighting Vehicle $40,500

WYOMING
Rock Creek Valley Vol. Fire Dept. Firefighting Vehicle $144,000