July 23, 2014

Durbin Announces A More Than $1.6 Million Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

Anna, Illinois to receive more than $798,000 in funding

[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 $1,607,356 in grants to eight 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 they need to do their jobs well and the equipment needed to help protect them as they protect us,” Durbin said.

Under this announcement, the following fire departments and districts will receive funding for vehicle acquisition:

  • Anna Fire Department (Anna, Illinois): $798,143 in funding; and
  • Sycamore Fire Department (Sycamore, Illinois): $384,750 in funding.

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

  • North Pekin Fire Department (Pekin, Illinois): $68,400 in funding;
  • Deer Creek Fire Protection District (Deer Creek, Illinois): $23,370 in funding;
  • Homer Township Fire Protection District (Homer Glen, Illinois): $262,619 in funding;
  • Spring Creek Fire Protection District (Nebo, Illinois): $24,165 in funding;
  • Forest Park Fire Department (Forest Park, Illinois): $22,159 in funding; and
  • Mount Olive Fire Protection District (Mount Olive, Illinois): $23,750 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. The AFG is in the process of awarding approximately $320.9 million in competitive grants to fire departments and non-affiliated EMS organizations from Fiscal Year 2013 AFG funding.