Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
JERSEY CITY, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) today announced a combined total of $937,825.69 in federal Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) funding to improve safety and operations in local fire departments across New Jersey. The AFG program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“We know how vital our fire and rescue companies are to the safety of our community, which is why this funding is so critical,” said Sen. Menendez. “This funding will help the men and women who put their lives on the line each and every day with the tools they need to safely protect our communities including new equipment and additional training.”
“New Jersey’s firefighters never hesitate to put their lives on the line to protect their communities,” said Sen. Booker. “This funding will go to providing them the equipment and resources they need to keep themselves and their communities safe.”
The following departments have been awarded AFG funding:
· $466,581.81 Absecon City Fire Company 1
- $223,571.42 Belmar
- $96,399.54 Passaic
- $70,454.54 Ewing
· $62,278.19 East Orange
· $18,540.50 Kearny
The grants announced this week follow last week’s announcement of more than $2 million in AFG funding to 22 New Jersey fire companies.
The AFG program provides direct financial assistance to eligible local professional and voluntary fire departments, emergency medical services organizations, and state fire training academies to equip and train first responders. Since it was established in 2001, New Jersey has received over $180 million in funding from the AFG program to enhance response capabilities, as well as to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel.
The FY 2021 AFG Program is one of three grant programs that constitute the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FEMA’s focus on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and related hazards. Since FY 2001, the AFG Program has awarded approximately $7.7 billion in grants to provide critically needed resources that equip and train emergency personnel to recognized standards, enhance operational efficiencies, foster interoperability, and support community resilience. The FY 2021 AFG Program will award another $414 million to first-responder organizations that need support to improve their capability to respond to fires and emergencies of all types. The total amount appropriated for the FY 2021 AFG Program initiative is $460 million.