08.21.14

Durbin, Duckworth, Local Officials Announcement $432,000 Investment In Villa Park First-Responder Capabilities

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Villa Park Mayor Deborah Bullwinkel, State Senator Tom Cullerton and local officials announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $432,000 grant to the Villa Park, Illinois Fire Department for vehicle acquisition. Today’s funding will help support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies.

 

“We must ensure our nation’s fire fighters and first-responders are equipped with the best, most up-to-date equipment to do their jobs effectively. Today’s grant will help meet that goal by providing funding for one of a fire department’s most essential pieces of equipment – a new fire truck – which will be a great asset to the Villa Park Fire Department and the surrounding community,” Durbin said. 


“It is so important that our brave first responders have the tools they need to be successful in the field,” said Duckworth. “I am proud that the Villa Park Fire Department is receiving vital resources to continue their efforts in saving lives. The taxpayers of Illinois contribute more than their fair share to the Federal government and I am pleased to see that crucial resources are coming back to the 8th District.”

 

"The Village of Villa Park is overjoyed with the news of this grant award, which will be used towards the purchase of a new fire engine for the Villa Park Fire Department. This funding will help the Village of Villa Park continue to fulfill its obligation of providing our first responders with the most current emergency equipment. We certainly could not make this happen without the incredible support of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth,” said Villa Park Mayor Deborah Bullwinkel.

 

 "This grant funding will go a long way to improve the safety of the residents of Villa Park," said State Senator Tom Cullerton of the 23rd District. "The partnership between local, state, and federal government is crucial to ensuring our first responders have the tools they need to protect our communities, and Senator Durbin is a leader when it comes to ensuring the federal government provides resources for towns like Villa Park."

“The FEMA grant will allow the Villa Park Fire Department to replace a 25 year old fire engine from its aging fleet. The Villa Park Fire Department is honored and thankful to receive this grant. We would like to thank everyone who supported our efforts, especially U.S. Representative Tammy Duckworth and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin,” said Villa Park Fire Chief Ron Rakosnik.

 

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. In Fiscal Year 2013, the program will award approximately $320.9 million directly to fire departments and non-affiliated EMS organizations to enhance their response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards.

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