Schumer Announces $645,000 in Federal Fire Grants for Akron Fire Department

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the Akron Fire Department will receive a grant totaling $645,000 in round 17 of the FY10 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. AFG awards are administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and are designed to strengthen the response programs of fire departments throughout the country by promoting and maintaining 24-hour staffing, particularly in volunteer fire departments.

The Akron Fire Department will use the funds to help firefighters pay for their college tuition and also offset tuition costs for current firefighters who have children attending college.

"This federal money will help the Akron Fire Department recruit and maintain competent staff that are capable of quickly and safely responding to emergencies in the area," said Schumer. "A college education is the ticket to the American dream and these funds will help our firefighters and their children get a world class education."

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) provides funding to local fire departments to help them improve the effectiveness of firefighting operations through specialized emergency training for response to situations like terrorist attacks; enhancement of emergency medical services programs; development of health and safety initiatives; establishment of fire education and prevention programs; creation of wellness and fitness programs; and equipment and facility upgrades.

The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program is part of Round 17 of the AFG Program and are intended to support the hiring of firefighters and the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. SAFER grants are administered to enhance the ability of grantees to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing and to assure that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. The objective of the Hiring of Firefighters activity is to award grants directly to volunteer, combination, and career fire departments to help the departments increase the number of frontline firefighters. The objective of the Recruitment and Retention of Volunteer Firefighters activity is to create a more favorable working environment for volunteer firefighters. The primary focus of this activity is to enlist and/or retain volunteer firefighters who are trained in the operations of firefighting and emergency response.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Programs are administered by the Department of Homeland Security in cooperation with the Department's United States Fire Administration. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis to the applicants that most closely address the program's priorities and demonstrate financial need.

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