Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) announced a combined $2,127,844.28 from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through its competitive Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program to assist three New Jersey fire departments with the hiring, retention and recruitment of firefighters.
“The safety of our communities and residents is one of the most fundamental services a government can provide which is why I am proud to advocate at every opportunity for New Jersey fired departments to receive SAFER grants,” said Sen. Menendez. “This funding will help these local fire departments increase safety and improve services while also helping our brave firefighters do the lifesaving work they so selflessly perform.”
“Our brave firefighters selflessly put their lives on the line every day to protect us,” said Senator Booker.“These grants will enable fire departments to respond swiftly to emergencies and keep their communities secure.”
The following departments have received Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to hire or retain firefighters in an effort to increase the number of frontline firefighters, enhance the ability of departments to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing, and assure that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards:
- $1,177,988.28 – Hoboken (Hiring of Firefighters)
- $441,600.00 – Ship Bottom Borough (Recruitment and Retention)
- $508,256.00 – Toms River Township (Recruitment and Retention)
The City of Hoboken will use the $1.17 million to hire four new firefighters and pay for their salaries for four years.
“These critical funds will allow the City to bring on more qualified firefighters, helping the Hoboken Fire Department better protect and serve our community,” said Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla. “Thank you to Senators Menendez and Booker, and Congressman Menendez, for helping to secure this near $1.2 million in SAFER grant funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”
“This SAFER grant will ensure that the Hoboken Fire Department has additional resources to continue the selfless and dedicated work that its firefighters perform every single day in one of New Jersey’s most densely populated cities,” said Congressman Rob Menendez (D-N.J.-08). “I am appreciative of the Biden Administration’s investment in the long-term safety of our constituents, and I look forward to providing more resources and assistance for additional safety measures for the benefit of all of our residents across the district.”
Since FY2005, the SAFER Program has awarded approximately $4.8 billion in grant funding to provide critically needed resources to hire new, additional firefighters (or to change the status of part-time or paid-on-call firefighters to full-time firefighters), to rehire laid off firefighters or to retain firefighters facing layoff, as well as to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters.
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