Durbin Announces $3.16 Million in Federal Funding for Illinois First-Responders
[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded grants totaling $3,161,281 to communities throughout Illinois. Today’s funding will support and improve the capability of each department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies.
“This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation’s firefighters and first-responders have access to the best resources and the equipment necessary to help protect them as they protect us,” Durbin said.
The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program
Under this announcement, the following fire departments and protection districts will receive funding for hiring:
- Manteno Community Fire Protection District (Manteno, Illinois): $858,000 in funding; and
- North Chicago Fire Department (North Chicago, Illinois): $737,160 in funding.
This funding is provided through the DHS’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. The SAFER program seeks to enhance a department’s ability to maintain 24-hour staffing and ensures that the community has adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. This year, the program will award approximately $340 million directly to fire departments and volunteer support groups to expand the number of firefighters available to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program
Under this announcement, the following fire departments and protection districts will receive funding for vehicle acquisition:
- North Palos Fire Protection District (Palos Hills, Illinois): $363,637 in funding; and
- Waukegan Fire Department (Waukegan, Illinois): $363,637 in funding; and
- City of Marion, Illinois Fire Department (Marion, Illinois): $361,905 in funding; and
- Midlothian Fire Department (Midlothian, Illinois): $141,905 in funding.
Under this announcement, the following fire departments and protection districts will receive funding for operations and safety:
- Libertyville Fire Department (Libertyville, Illinois): $16,546 in funding; and
- Urbana Fire Department (Urbana, Illinois): $20,645 in funding; and
- Decatur Fire & Rescue (Decatur, Illinois): $40,910 in funding; and
- Springfield Fire Department (Springfield, Illinois): $56,026 in funding; and
- Elmhurst Fire Department (Elmhurst, Illinois): $200,910 in funding.
The funding is provided through the DHS’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, which seeks to strengthen the nation’s overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and fire related hazards. Since 2001, the AFG has provided approximately $5.25 billion in federal funding to first-responder organizations across the country to help purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, training, and vehicles. This year, the AFG will award $304.5 million to first-responder organizations that need support to improve their capability to respond to fires and emergencies of all types.