04.21.17

Durbin, Duckworth Announce More Than $100,000 in Federal Funding for Firefighter Training and Resources in Adams County

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded $108,182 to Adams County Ambulance & EMS through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.  This program is administered by the DHS’s Federal Emergency Management Agency in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration.  Adams County Ambulance & EMS will use the funds for operations and safety including professional training, wellness and fitness programs equipment, personal protective equipment, modifications to facilities, and supplies that support firefighting and non-affiliated EMS operations and safety.

“Our nation's firefighters are called upon day after day to protect our communities.  As these brave men and women put themselves in harm’s way, we must ensure that they are equipped with the best training and tools possible to do their jobs well,” Durbin said. “I’m proud to fight for funding that will support our first-responders throughout Illinois.”        

“Firefighters in communities throughout Illinois risk their lives and run toward danger when others run away. We owe it to them to make sure they have the best equipment and training, and I'm proud to join senator Durbin in announcing this funding to help them get it,” Duckworth said.

Assistance to Firefighters Grants provide first-responder organizations the ability to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles and training in an effort to strengthen the nation’s overall level of preparedness.  Since Fiscal Year 2001, the AFG Program has provided approximately $6.7 billion in grants to first-responder organizations.