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HARKIN ANNOUNCES FIREFIGHTER ASSISTANCE FOR TWO IOWA COMMUNITIES
3/2/2006
WASHINGTON, D.C.—As part of his continued effort to support Iowa’s
first responders, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) announced today that the
Loess Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross in Council Bluffs
received $20,559 and the Carroll Volunteer Fire Department
received $11,128 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.
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