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

Georgia Receives $1,119,441 To Assist Local Fire Departments In Latest Round Of Grants

Release Date: December 19, 2003
Release Number: R4-03-291

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 484 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the twenty-seventh round of the 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 11 communities in Georgia.

“Putting these funds directly into fire departments across the country has enabled our first responders to receive the training and equipment necessary to save lives and property when threatened by any hazard,” said Brown. “President Bush, Secretary Ridge and I wish our nation’s first responders a safe and happy holiday. We thank these brave men and women for their service over the past year, and will remain steadfast in our commitment to support America’s firefighters in 2004.”

This twenty-seventh round of grants provides over $46.8 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, nearly 7300 fire departments have received over $564 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 Georgia:

Camden County Fire Rescue Kingsland Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $109,723
Hahira Fire Department Hahira Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $60,093
City of Arlington Fire Department Arlington Firefighting Vehicle $153,000
Turner County Fire Department Ashburn Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $106,699
Jones County Fire Department Gray Fire Prevention $53,100
City of Morrow Fire Department Morrow Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $72,072
City of Monroe Fire Department Monroe Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $63,000
Shiloh Community Volunteer Fire Department Danielsville Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $74,390
Dawson County Fire/Rescue Dawsonville Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $115,491
Cedartown Fire Department Cedartown Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $50,073
Augusta Fire Department Augusta Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety $261,800

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 http://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: Monday, 22-Dec-2003 10:16:04