WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) announced five Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) totaling $1,272,511 in federal funding. Since the program began in 2001, New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District fire and emergency response organizations have received more than $27 million under AFG.
“With the continued strain on municipal budgets, this federal funding will go a long way to ensure our first responders are equipped and protected for the dangerous jobs they have to do,” said LoBiondo, a member of the Congressional Fire Caucus. “I am pleased that once again South Jersey fire companies have benefited from the AFG program. I will continue to work closely with our local mayors and first responders to ensure they have the resources they need to keep our communities safe.”
The grant awards announced are as follows:
- $611,364 to the Atlantic City Fire Department, which is the seventh AFG award for the company;
- $241,739 to the Mizpah Volunteer Fire Company, which is the second AFG award for the company;
- $162,381 to the Goshen Volunteer Fire Company, which is the third AFG award for the company;
- $158,672 to the Green Creek Volunteer Fire Company, which is the fourth AFG award for the company; and,
- $98,355 to the Heislerville Volunteer Fire Company, which is the third AFG award for the department.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program awards grants directly to fire departments and emergency services to support their efforts to protect the communities they serve. The Fiscal Year 2016 program will award approximately $310.5 million in competitive grants to first responder organizations across the country to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources required to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the program. Congressman LoBiondo’s office hosts seminars for area fire departments to highlight the benefits of this grant program and assist with the application process. They were held in cooperation with Senator Cory Booker’s office. LoBiondo has sponsored the seminars for more than a decade. More information can be found at www.fema.gov/firegrants/
