Round Thirty-One Of The Assistance To Firefighters Grants To Aid America's Fire Departments Announced By FEMA 

Tennessee Receives $240,480 to Assist Local Fire Departments in Latest Round of Grants

Release Date: January 30, 2004
Release Number: R4-04-030

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 216 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the thirty-first round of the fiscal year 2003 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The grants will ultimately total approximately 7,000 awards worth $750 million in direct assistance to firefighters.

Included in the announcement were awards for two communities in Tennessee.

"President Bush, Secretary Ridge and I maintain our commitment to support America's firefighters with the distribution of these critical funds, and encourage fire service leaders to visit both the USFA and DHS websites for more information about the FY04 program," said Brown. "This grant program, appropriated by Congress, will continue to provide the fire service with the equipment and training necessary for first responders to fulfill their mission."

This thirty-first round of grants provides over $18 million to help local fire departments fund the purchase of firefighting equipment, fund firefighter health and safety programs, enhance emergency medical services programs, and conduct fire prevention and safety programs. Since June, over 8100 fire departments have received over $651 million to support their role as first responders in the neighborhoods and communities they serve as firefighters.

Grants have been made available to the following fire departments in Tennessee:

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), administers the Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program. The program assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. A list of all current award recipients announced to date is posted on the USFA web site at www.usfa.fema.gov/grants. Future grant recipients will be listed as awards are made.

On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.

Last Modified: Friday, 30-Jan-2004 10:45:35