Menendez, Booker Announce $14.7M in Federal Grants for NJ Fire Departments
NEWARK, NJ – August 28, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today announced a combined $14,732,042 in federal grants to hire more firefighters and improve safety and operations in local fire departments across New Jersey. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) programs are administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“It’s absolutely critical that New Jersey fire departments have the resources they need to save lives and keep the community safe,” said Sen. Menendez. “These federal grants will help ensure our local fire departments are adequately staffed and our firefighters properly equipped to protect both themselves and the neighborhoods they serve.”
“Today’s announcement is a testament to our efforts in supporting our state’s first responders. These funds will help fire departments maintain their ranks and keep their equipment up to date,” said Sen. Booker. “I will continue to fight to ensure that New Jersey’s fire departments receive the critical funds they need to keep our communities and residents safe.”
The SAFER program seeks to increase the number of frontline firefighters, enhancing the ability of departments to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing and assuring that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.
The following SAFER grants were awarded:
• $14,076,912 Trenton Fire Dept. (Mercer)
To rehire 59 laid off firefighters
The following AFG grants were awarded:
• $249,546 Elwood Volunteer Fire Co. (Atlantic)
For safety and operations
• $160,000 Pomona Volunteer Fire Assoc. #3 (Atlantic)
For safety and operations
• $84,120 Monroe Twp. Fire District #3 (Middlesex)
For safety and operations
• $73,273 Medford Fire Division (Burlington)
For safety and operations
• $54,000 Mauricetown Board of Fire Commissioners Commercial Twp.
District II (Cumberland)
For safety and operations
• $34,191 Upper Greenwood Lake Fire Dept. (Sussex)
For thermal imaging cameras and self-escape training
The AFG program provides funding to enhance response capabilities, as well as to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel.
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Press Contact
Steven_Sandberg (at) menendez.senate (dot) gov
