LoBiondo Announces Open Application Period for SAFER Grants Program

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) announced the upcoming open period for local fire departments to apply for federal funding under the Department of Homeland Security’s Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant program. The SAFER program provides federal grants to local fire departments to recruit, train and retain firefighters. The application period will run today until March 25, 2016 with awards being announced later this year.
“Too often our municipalities must balance limited budgets with their substantial needs. At times, critical emergency services in our communities could be on the chopping block. South Jersey has previously benefitted from the SAFER grant program which provides additional options to municipalities to ensure staffing at local fire departments is not jeopardized,” said LoBiondo, a member of the Congressional Fire Caucus. “Local communities such as Atlantic City, Port Elizabeth, Pleasantville and Vineland have received awards from the SAFER program in recent years. I strongly encourage fire departments across South Jersey to take advantage of this federal funding source.”
Similar to the popular Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) which grants federal funding in one-year grants directly to fire departments to support the nation’s firefighters, the SAFER program will award approximately $340 million in competitive grants to local fire departments specifically for the recruitment and retention of volunteer and professional firefighters. Applications can be found at www.fema.gov/staffing-adequate-fire-emergency-response-grants
The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers both programs. In August LoBiondo partnered with New Jersey Senator Cory Booker to host two fire grant workshops for 2^nd Congressional District fire and rescue departments to highlight the benefits of these grant programs. LoBiondo has hosted the annual seminar for more than a decade.