Kildee Helps Secure $114,156 Firefighter Grant Award for Hampton Township Fire Department

WASHINGTON - Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded $114,156 to the Hampton Township Fire Department.  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 Hampton Township 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 Hampton Township 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 them 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.   Congressman Kildee was an original cosponsor of the Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement Act, the legislation that authorizes these grants.  Fire Departments nationwide will receive over $2 billion to support fire protection, EMS delivery, and vehicle purchase and prevention programs in 2005.  FEMA received more than 20,000 applications this year from fire departments across the United States.