Harkin Announces Nearly $490,000 to Assist Firefighters Across Iowa

WASHINGTON D.C – Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that five fire departments across the state received a total of $487,129 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program. The funds will be used for training, equipment, personal protective equipment, vehicle acquisition, wellness and fitness and health and safety modifications to stations and facilities. Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

“These grants can only strengthen the work of the selfless first responders, many of whom are volunteers, to more quickly and safely help Iowa’s citizens who may truly need help,” said Harkin.  “I am pleased to see that the volunteers in Birmingham, Newhall and Pulaski are being rewarded for their efforts and that the agencies in the McAllsburg-Warren Township and Cedar Rapids are benefitting from these grants.”

Five grants were awarded to various Iowa Fire Departments, including:

Birmingham Volunteer Fire Department- $44,608
Newhall Volunteer Fire Department- $38,893
Pulaski Volunteer Fire Department- $15,162
McAllsburg-Warren Township Fire/EMS agency- $31,341
Cedar Rapids Fire Department- $357,125

Although AFG Program assists rural, urban, and suburban fire departments throughout the United States, it places a particular emphasis on rural fire departments.  At least 55 percent of the program’s funding must go to fire departments that use volunteer firefighters.  This means that smaller towns are not competing against larger cities.  Additionally, the program allows smaller communities to contribute less in local funding.  In today’s economy, this makes it possible for small fire departments to take advantage of the program.

Source: Senator Harkin