U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill) today announced the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has awarded two federal firefighter grants to the City of Springfield Fire Department and the Witt Volunteer Fire Protection District.
Springfield received a Assistance to Firefighters Supplemental (AFG-S) grant in the amount of $66,796.01. The supplemental funding comes from the CARES Act which Congressman Davis voted for back in March to provide Coronavirus relief. It authorized FEMA to provide $100 million in supplemental FY 2020 funding for personal protective equipment (PPE) and related supplies to the fire service community to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Witt received a Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) grant in the amount of $73,463.00. The grant is for the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters. The objective of the program is to create a more favorable working environment for volunteer firefighters to encourage current volunteers to continue with their volunteerism as well as entice new volunteers to join.
“I’m proud to support these grants in Congress because they are critical to helping our fire departments protect themselves and the citizens they serve. This is especially true amongst the Coronavirus pandemic. Taxpayers in these communities pay into the system and it’s important they see the benefits," said Davis.
