Levin, Stabenow Announce $25,204 for Two Michigan Fire Departments

Gladwin, Gwinn to receive funding

WASHINGTON – Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin (D-MI) announced today that two Michigan fire departments will receive a total of $25,204 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Program for grants to purchase important firefighting equipment.

"Whenever anyone calls 911, they are confident of their fire department's ability to respond, whether to fight flames or provide emergency medical assistance," said Levin. "In part, that confidence in our fire departments comes from the knowledge that they have access to top-notch equipment. These grants will ensure that the fire departments in Gladwin and Gwinn are able to serve their communities to the best of their ability."

"When the alarm sounds, the men and women who serve in our fire departments are ready to risk their lives to protect our homes and families," said Stabenow. "That means we owe them the very best in training and equipment. That's why I'm pleased to see that these fire departments in Gladwin and Gwinn are getting the support they deserve."

Michigan fire departments to receive funding in this round of grants include:

Fire Department	Grant Amount	Purpose
Gladwin Urban/Rural Fire Dept.	$19,809	Firefighting Equipment
Sands Township Fire Dept., Gwinn	$5,395	Firefighting Equipment

Congress authorized the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program as part of the FY2001 defense authorization bill and appropriated $100 million for the program. Levin is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

More than 19,700 fire departments across the country – both volunteer and career – applied for grants totaling almost $3 billion. Fire departments may use the grant money for training, wellness and fitness programs, firefighting vehicles, firefighting equipment and fire prevention programs.

Grants under this program have already been awarded to: Dowagiac Fire Department ($8,451), Ferndale Fire Department ($24,750), City of Muskegon Heights Fire Department ($41,433), City of Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety ($160,300), Cedar Fire Department ($16,678), City of Grandville Fire Department ($7,740), Empire Volunteer Fire Department ($3,600), Pewamo Fire Department ($40,500), Bridgeport Township Fire Department ($17,762), Mikado Township Fire Department ($56,250), Grand Haven Township Fire Department ($13,500), Delta Township Fire Department ($40,000), City of Battle Creek Fire Department ($466,986), Detroit Fire Department ($523,250), Grosse Pointe Woods Dept. of Public Safety ($57,326), Grosse Pointe Farms Fire Department ($32,319), Marquette Fire Department ($17,640), Pontiac Fire Department ($19,750), Sandusky Community Fire Department ($36,900) and Clinton Area Fire and Rescue ($179,993).