Round Twenty-One Of Assistance To Firefighters Grants To Aid America's Fire Departments Announced By FEMA
Florida Receives $86,436 to Assist Local Fire Departments in Latest Round of Grants
Release Date: November 7, 2003
Release Number: R4-03-229
Atlanta, GA -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, announced 242 grants to fire departments throughout the U.S. in the twenty-first 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 two communities in Florida.
"In California we have seen the benefits of the suppression efforts made by the nation's fire fighters, and it underscores the importance of putting fire grant funds directly into the communities," said Brown. "President Bush, Homeland Security and FEMA are committed to the prevention and preparedness of all fires, as we are to providing firefighters with the critical financial support they need, through the AFG program."
This twenty-first round of grants provides over $14 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. To date, over 5400 fire departments have received over $380 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 Florida:
| Sneads Volunteer Fire Department | Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety | $60,277 |
| City of Bartow Fire Department | Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety | $26,159 |
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 Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Monday, 10-Nov-2003 09:29:43