Durbin, Foster Announce More Than $1 Million Investment in Naperville First-Responder Capabilities
[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Bill Foster (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has awarded a $1,002,000 grant to the Naperville Fire Department in Naperville, Illinois for hiring initiatives aimed at increasing the number of frontline firefighters.
“Today’s grant will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur, firefighters and first-responders will always stand ready to protect the communities they bravely serve,” Durbin said.
“Though we face budget shortfalls and cutbacks throughout government, I am pleased to announce this critical investment in our Naperville firefighters. It is critical that we make sure our first responders have the tools they need to keep our communities safe,” said Foster.
This funding is provided through the Fiscal Year 2013 DHS’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program – Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) announcements. The SAFER program seeks to enhance a department’s ability to maintain 24-hour staffing and ensures that the community has adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. In Fiscal Year 2013, the program will award approximately $320 million directly to fire departments and volunteer support groups to expand the number of firefighters available to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public.