04.22.15

Durbin Announces A Nearly $838,000 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 $837,960 to six 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 Chatham Fire Protection District in Chatham, Illinois will receive $262,728 in funding for vehicle acquisition. 

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

  • Adams County Ambulance and EMS (Quincy, Illinois): $33,728 in funding;
  • Huntley Fire Protection District (Huntley, Illinois): $333,023 in funding;
  • Fox River and Countryside Fire/ Rescue District (St. Charles, Illinois): $103,546 in funding;
  • Broadview Fire Department (Broadview, Illinois): $82,077 in funding and;
  • Alsip Fire Department (Alsip, Illinois): $22,858 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. 

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