Washington, DC  -  Congressman Mike Rogers congratulated the men and women of the Alexander City Fire Department and the Windermere Volunteer Fire Department today for receiving $52,609 in grants to help purchase new fire safety and operations equipment.

Rogers said Windermere should receive $17,411, and Alexander City should receive $35,198. Both grants are administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and should help support firefighting efforts in the area and provide critical support to local first responders.

“Tallapoosa County’s first responders are our first line of defense,” Rogers said. “I congratulate the men and women of the Alexander City Fire Department and the Windermere Volunteer Fire Department for receiving these grants, and hope they will ultimately help increase the safety for all local citizens.”

Rogers said funding for the grants is included under the 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, an essential Federal program which supports first responders across Alabama and the nation. Included under the Operations and Firefighter Safety initiative is training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to fire stations and facilities. 

Rogers is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Management, Integration and Oversight on the Committee on Homeland Security in Congress. “I am pleased to see the Federal government is continuing to make these types of investments in East Alabama,” he added.