09.03.14

Durbin Announces A More Than $177,000 Investment in Illinois First-Responder Capabilities

[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 $177,416 to three communities in 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 protection districts will receive funding for operations and safety:

  • Kaneville Fire Protection District (Kaneville, Illinois): $118,264 in funding;
  • Pulaski Volunteer Fire Department (Pulaski, Illinois): $34,685 in funding; and
  • Rosedale Volunteer Fire Department (Rosedale, Illinois): $24,467 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.