Washington, DC – Congressman Bill Shuster announced today federal funding for the New Franklin Volunteer Fire Department in Chambersburg.  The grant, from the Assistance to Firefighters Program, will go toward updating the radio systems, which will greatly help emergency officials communicate. 

“This switch-over of our radios will bring us into P-25 compliance, which means all emergency services personnel in the area can talk to each other,” said Colin Snyder of the fire department. 

The New Franklin Volunteer Fire Department will receive $108,737 to go toward the new radios and to bring them into compliance.  The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is administered through the Department of Homeland Security and awards one-year grants directly to fire departments to help fund the services they deliver to their communities. 

“Radio equipment and other communications tools need to be compatible because during an emergency they all need to be able to talk to one another,” said Shuster, who is chairman of the Emergency Management Subcommittee in Congress.  “This program focuses on helping our emergency officials update their supplies and equipment, such as these radios.”