Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $194,263 in federal funding for the City of Tonawanda Fire Department. These federal dollars will be used by the City of Tonawanda Fire Department for equipment vital to the firefighter’s safety. The funding is allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“This is a great investment for Tonawanda,” Senator Gillibrand said. “This federal investment will help improve the fire department’s equipment, help local firefighters do their work and keep families safe. I will continue working to ensure our first responders have the tools and resources they need to keep our communities safe.”
“The City of Tonawanda Fire Department is extremely grateful and excited to have been chosen as one of the recipients of the 2010 Fire Act Grant program,” said Charles B. Stuart, City of Tonawanda Fire Department Chief. “This grant will provide funding to acquire numerous pieces of equipment, which will allow the department to significantly enhance our life-saving capabilities and provide a larger margin of safety for our firefighters who may need to perform rescues from within confined spaces. The timing of this grant could not have been better considering the state of our local economy. This award not only benefits the department but also our local taxpayers, as these upgrades will not cause an increase in our operating budget.”
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, established by DHS and FEMA, is a competitive grant program that is part of an effort to increase the nation’s emergency response preparation. This program provides federal funding to first responder organizations for the acquisition of personal protective equipment, firefighting vehicles, and emergency response equipment. The funds will also help provide emergency response training to firefighters.