U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker announced late last month a combined $1,750,835.80 in federal Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) funding to improve safety and operations in local fire departments across New Jersey.
The AFG program is administered by the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
“New Jersey’s firefighters courageously put their lives on the line to keep us, our families and our communities safe,” said Sen. Menendez. “These federal investments help ensure the safety of our first responders by providing them with the critical training, equipment and resources they need to safely do their job and protect us.”
“It’s important that we do everything in our power to ensure that New Jersey’s brave firefighters have the resources they need to best protect themselves and our communities,” said Sen. Booker. “This funding, which I was proud to advocate for, will provide fire departments across the state with critically needed equipment upgrades, protective gear, emergency vehicles, and training courses in order to enhance personnel and public safety. We owe our firefighters and first responders a tremendous debt of gratitude, and I’m glad that these federal investments will help ten New Jersey departments increase safety and operational efficiency, therefore strengthening the quality of our state’s emergency services.”
A total of $42,072.72 went towards departments in Gloucester Township through the grants recently announced.
The AFG program provides direct financial assistance to eligible local professional and voluntary fire departments, emergency medical services organizations and state fire training academies to equip and train first responders. Since it was established in 2001, New Jersey has received over $180 million in funding from the AFG program to enhance response capabilities, as well as to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel.
