U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-Concord) today announced that fire departments in Thompson Township, Chardon and Boston Heights will receive federal funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
LaTourette said the Thompson Township Volunteer Fire Department will receive $177,300 in federal funds to purchase a new fire engine. The department's newest fire engine is a 1976 model and another truck dates to 1971.
In addition, the Boston Heights Fire Department will receive $33,858 and the Chardon Volunteer Fire Department will receive $31,657 for operations and firefighter safety.
Grants will be announced weekly until $750 million has been awarded to departments across the country, LaTourette said.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (UFA) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Office for Domestic Preparedness. It assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments across the country, and funds are used to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, Emergency Medical Service programs, and Fire Prevention and Safety Programs. About 8,000 departments are expected to receive grants with Fiscal Year 2004 funds. More than 20,000 departments nationwide applied for grants.
The local share for these grants is 10 percent for jurisdictions that serve 50,000 or fewer residents, and 30 percent for departments that serve more than 50,000 residents. Grants are awarded to paid, volunteer and combination departments. LaTourette is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, which has jurisdiction over the FIRE grant program.
LaTourette said Ohio fire departments received more than $26 million in federal assistance in Fiscal Year 2003, with more than $2.3 million going to departments in the 14th Congressional District alone.