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HARKIN ANNOUNCES FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE FOR FOUR IOWA COMMUNITIES
12/14/2005
WASHINGTON,
D.C. As part
of his continued effort to support Iowa’s first responders, Senator Tom
Harkin (D-IA) announced today that four Iowa communities received a
total of $175,370 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS)
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Harkin is a senior member of
the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“I am pleased these
brave
men and women will receive the essential fire fighting tools they need
to keep our communities safe,” said Harkin. “The equipment, technology
and training these grants provide are key to protecting Iowa’s
firefighters, our homes and loved ones.”
The Assistance to
Firefighters Grants Program (AFGP) helps Iowa communities purchase
firefighting equipment, firefighter health and safety programs,
emergency medical services programs, and fire prevention and safety
programs. Fire departments can submit proposals to receive funds for
new fire trucks, hoses, protective equipment, rescue vehicles, and
training for emergency personnel.
Although the
program
assists rural, urban, and suburban fire departments throughout the
United States, it places a particular emphasis on rural fire
departments. It requires that at least 60 percent of the funding must
go to volunteer fire departments. This means that towns like Hartwick
and Oelwein are not competing against cities like Des Moines or Cedar
Rapids. Additionally, the program requires only a 10 percent match in
local funding. In today’s economy, this makes it possible for small
fire departments to take advantage of the program.
The Iowa grantees
are listed below.
– Odebolt Fire
Department (Odebolt, IA)
$39,258 for
Operations and Safety
-West Burlington
Fire Department (West Burlington, IA)
$32,134 for
Operations and Safety
– Kellogg Township
Fire Department (Kellogg, IA)
$75,478 for
Operations and Safety
– Reinbeck Fire
Department (Reinbeck, IA)
$28,500 for
Operations and Safety
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