Press Release

Gillibrand Announces Nearly $400,000 for City of Cortland Fire Department

Feb 1, 2012

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $396,407 in federal funding for City of Cortland Fire Department on behalf of 12 local Fire Districts to purchase portable radios and interoperability upgrades that will help them respond to emergencies more effectively. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. 

In November 2011, Senator Gillibrand wrote a letter to FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate to encourage the Administration to fully fund the City of Cortland Fire Department’s grant request in order to help them better serve their community. 

“This is an important investment for the City of Cortland Fire Department,” Senator Gillibrand said. “It is critical that our EMS providers can communicate with each other as they respond to emergencies. This federal grant will help update their equipment so our first responders can respond quickly, effectively and safely to emergencies in our communities.” 

City of Cortland Fire Chief Charles Glover said “The Cortland Fire Department is pleased to hear from Senator Gillibrand’s Office that the grant application for procuring portable radios has been successful. The Cortland Fire Department applied for this grant on behalf of all twelve fire departments and fire districts, as well as two fire based EMS providers within Cortland County. This award will enable the fire departments to equip firefighters and staff with portable radios as Cortland County upgrades to interoperable UHF communications system throughout the County.”

The City of Cortland Fire Department will use the federal funding to purchase radios and communications equipment that will allow them to respond to the over 49,000 Cortland County residents more effectively. Across the twelve fire districts, approximately 540 active fire rescue service personnel serve the region that will benefit from this federal grant.

In November 2011, Senator Gillibrand wrote a letter to FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate to encourage the Administration to fully fund the City of Cortland Fire Department’s grant request in order to help them better serve their community in a manner that would not jeopardize their health or safety.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, established by FEMA within the Department of Homeland Security, 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 also help provide emergency response trainings.