 |
|
|||||||||||||||
NEWS AND EVENTS Local Fire Department receives 4 separate federal grants from DHS and USDA Forest Service in Fall 2005 Fire District #1-Johnson County, Kansas has received 4 separate Federal Grants totaling $530,906 from the 2005 Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Program (SAFER), the 2005 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG), both administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the 2005 Volunteer Fire Assistance Program (VFA) administered by the Kansas Forest Service (KFS) and funded by the USDA Forest Service. The SAFER Grant Program assists fire departments in securing adequate staffing levels by providing funds to help pay for salaries and benefits for new paid firefighter positions and by providing funding to help recruit and retain volunteer firefighters. On November 4, 2005 Fire District #1 received notice from DHS of a grant award for $300,000.00 for the creation of 3 new paid firefighter positions and $63,024.00 for recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. The AFG Program assists fire departments in purchasing firefighting equipment, funding firefighter health and safety programs, enhancing emergency medical services programs, and conducting fire education and prevention programs. On October 7, 2005 Fire District #1 received notice from DHS of a grant award for $165,821.00 from this program to install emergency backup power generators, sprinkler systems and alarm systems in their 3 fire stations. The VFA Grant Program assists fire departments in organizing, training and equipping firefighters to prevent and suppress wildland fires in rural areas. On November 4, 2005 Fire District #1 received a grant award check from KFS for $2,061.01 to purchase 10 sets of wildland firefighting gear from this program. A Press Conference is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 2, 2005 at Fire District #1 Station #3, 490 New Century Parkway, New Century AirCenter, Kansas to present the details of these grants to all interested media and to thank Congressman Moore and Senator Roberts for their past, present and future support of these important fire service funding programs. Congressman Moore plans to be present at the press conference to give a statement concerning these grant awards and programs. Senator Roberts regrets not being able to attend due to his obligations in the Senate but has issued the following statement in regards to the grant awards to fire district #1: "I am pleased to announce these funds, which are vital to improve firefighting efforts and first responder needs in Kansas . It's imperative to support our local fire departments." For more information on the AFG Program and SAFER Grant Program, please visit the Program Website at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/ , or contact the Grants Program Office at 1-866-274-0960. For more information on the VFA Grant Program please visit http//www.kansasforest.org
|
|||||||||||||||
