(Kansas City, MO)—Today, Congressman Cleaver announced that the Department of Homeland Security awarded an $82,752 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program award to the South Metro Fire Protection District in Raymore, Missouri. The grant will purchase a Live Fire Mobile Training Unit for the purpose of conducting live fire training for station personnel.
 
Nationally, the AFG awards will ultimately provide approximately $485 million to roughly 4500 fire-related organizations. The grant to South Metro Fire District was selected out of 18,000 applicants nationwide.
 
“I am so pleased to announce this grant to the South Metro Fire Protection District. A little over a year ago, Chief Randy Adams took me on a tour of the main fire station and headquarters in Raymore and I got to spend some time with the men and women who dedicate their lives to protecting others. I hope this training unit will help keep them safe. We owe them so much for what they do everyday,” said Congressman Cleaver.
 
Chief Adams added, “South Metro Fire Protection District is pleased to be a recipient of the latest round of "Fire Grants", from the Assistance to Firefighters program in the Department of Homeland Security.  I want to thank the residents of northern Cass County for their continued support and want to assure them that we are making every effort to fully utilize the funds available to us, whether local, state, or federal dollars. I would also like to thank Congressman Cleaver for fighting on our behalf to protect grant opportunities like this. Congressman Cleaver continues to give special attention to those of us in Cass County. Without this grant, we would not be able to purchase this equipment, and because of this equipment, our department will be better prepared.  Every dollar we can put into training helps to bring our firefighters safely home from their duties.”

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Belton, Raymore and Peculiar, Missouri. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee.