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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Tim Mahoney |
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Mahoney: Volunteer fire, ambulance services have until April 3 to apply for federal grants
HARRISBURG, March 4 – State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Fayette, said local fire departments and ambulance services in the 51st Legislative District can now apply for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
The $500 million program is designed to award grants to volunteer fire and ambulance services in Pennsylvania and across the country. In 2007, the state's fire and emergency services organizations were awarded more than $49 million under the program.
"It is imperative that volunteer fire and rescue organizations submit applications for grant funding as soon as possible because they only have until April 3 to apply," Mahoney said.
Mahoney said there are two types of grants volunteer organizations can apply for:
- General operation and safety, such as training, protective equipment, health and fitness, and facilities.
- Vehicle acquisition and related equipment, such as pumpers, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units and fireboats.
Departments can also submit applications for regional projects involving multiple organizations and jurisdictions. Fire departments can get program details and applications by visiting www.firegrantsupport.com. Help is also available by e-mailing firegrants@dhs.gov or calling 1-866-274-0960 for more information.
This year, volunteer fire and rescue companies in Mahoney's legislative district received a total of $254,200 in state grants from Pennsylvania's Volunteer Fire Department and Volunteer Ambulance Company Grant Program.
Mahoney said that the state funding is the result of legislation be co-sponsored that created a $25 million annual fund to provide grants of up to $15,000 to eligible fire companies and $10,000 to eligible ambulance companies in Pennsylvania.
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