Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced he will host a workshop for local firefighters interested in applying for federal fire grant funding through the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS).   At the workshop, participants are invited to learn first hand from a DHS Fire Grant Specialist how to put together a qualifying application.  All applications are then submitted to DHS and go through a non-partisan, merit based review ranked by factors established by a panel of fire service professionals.

“These workshops play an important role in maximizing the opportunity to bring federal dollars back to Western New York,” said Congressman Higgins.  “Over the last several years fire companies in the 27th Congressional district have been awarded federal funds totaling over $13 million dollars.”

Below are the details on this year’s workshop:
 

In FY2010 Congress appropriated $390 million for the AFG program for competitive grants to fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations to improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, and to establish or expand fire prevention programs throughout the United States.  

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP) administers the program, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.  There are 1.1 million active firefighters in the United States, 73 percent of which are volunteers.  

For more information on the fire grant program visit the federal fire grant website at: http://www.firegrantsupport.com/ or please contact Congressman Higgins’ Buffalo office at 716-852-3501.