09.03.15

Durbin Announces $753,000 in Federal Funding for Illinois First-Responders

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – 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 $753,310 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.

   

Under this announcement, the Princeton Fire Department in Princeton, Illinois will receive $161,905 in funding for vehicle acquisition. 

   

Under this announcement, the Taylorville Fire Department in Taylorville, Illinois will receive $5,455 in funding for regional fire protection efforts. 

   

Also under this announcement, the following fire departments and protection districts will receive funding for operations and safety:

   

  • Streamwood Fire Department (Streamwood, Illinois): $40,910 in funding;

   

  • Cherry Fire Protection District (Cherry, Illinois): $42,858 in funding;

   

  • Prophetstown Fire Protection District (Prophetstown, Illinois): $193,286 in funding;

   

  • City of Freeport Fire Department (Freeport, Illinois): $160,796 in funding; and

   

  • Granite City Fire Department (Granite City, Illinois): $148,100 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.