WASHINGTON - Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded $111,340 to the Frankenmuth Fire Department in Saginaw County.  The Office for Domestic Preparedness of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration awarded these funds to the Frankenmuth Fire Department under the Fiscal Year 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program for Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety. 

“We must continue to provide more funding to ensure the safety and preparedness of those brave men and women who continually risk their lives to protect our lives,” said Kildee.  “These funds will enable our local fire department to pursue new training and wellness programs and to provide them with access to new equipment.”

The Frankenmuth Fire Department was selected to receive a federal grant in order to help fund training activities and purchase new protective firefighter equipment.  The competitive grant was awarded to the Frankenmuth Fire Department after they submitted a well-written and persuasive grant application that underwent a national peer review process by 300 fire service leaders who evaluated and scored each application.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is designed as an opportunity for the U.S. Congress to work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enhance basic fire service delivery across the country.   Fire Departments nationwide will receive over $2 billion to support fire protection, EMS delivery, and vehicle purchase and prevention programs in 2005.  FEMA received 20,972 applications this year from fire departments across the country.