NCFPD contracts with Hoch Consulting for grant opportunities

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The North County Fire Protection District board approved a contract with Hoch Consulting for services to identify potential grant opportunities.

A 5-0 vote Aug. 23 approved the execution of the contract with Hoch Consulting. Hoch’s tasks will include identifying and researching grant funding opportunities, proposal writing, and post-award administration. Any large grant applications will be brought to the NCFPD board for review and approval. Hoch will be paid up to $30,000 for the services provided.

Over the past three years Hoch Consulting has obtained more than $57 million in grants or rebates for local cities or public agencies.

Hoch Consulting previously worked with the City of Oceanside to obtain a United States Department of Defense grant for a replacement fire station. That grant program provides funding for communities which support military readiness.

“I’m interested in pursuing the same grant opportunity for our facility needs here,” said NCFPD fire chief Keith McReynolds.

McReynolds noted that NCFPD personnel often collaborate with Camp Pendleton firefighters. “We give a fair amount of support to that agency,” he said.

The North County Fire Protection District plans to replace or significantly renovate Station 1 which is currently on Ivy Street and Station 4 in Pala Mesa. “Hopefully we would be able to secure that grant to assist us with those projects,” McReynolds said.

The grants Hoch will seek are not limited to the Department of Defense program. “They can continue to look for various grants out there for us at the local, state, and Federal level,” McReynolds said.

Hoch Consulting was founded in 2012 and moved its office from the Kearny Mesa area of San Diego to Oceanside two years ago. The Rainbow Municipal Water District has utilized Hoch Consulting for design and construction inspection services, and Rainbow also contracted with Hoch for grant writing services which resulted in Rainbow receiving a $300,000 state Office of Emergency Services grant to purchase two emergency generators and a solar-powered battery backup system.

The Hoch Consulting team includes North County Fire Protection District resident Cari Dale. Dale’s previous professional experience was with water, including as the water utilities director for the City of Oceanside, but Dale will be involved in the grant writing efforts for the North County Fire Protection District. “She does a little bit of everything,” said Hoch Consulting president Adam Hoch. “She’s fantastic.”