| Washington, DC – Congressman Bill Shuster is pleased to announce that two fire companies in Huntingdon County have received Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Program grants.
The Trough Creek Valley Volunteer Fire Company will receive a grant in the amount of $111,400 and the Mount Union Fire Company No. 1 will receive a grant in the amount of $89,775. Both of these grants will be used towards “Operations and Safety Equipment.”
“The work our local fire companies do every day to safeguard our communities deserves recognition and support from the people they help,” Shuster said. “One important way to show our gratitude is to make sure our firefighters have the training and equipment they need to save lives and serve our communities safely.”
“People throughout Huntingdon County show their civic pride and support for local fire companies through fundraisers and other gatherings. As important as these events are, more can be done to support our local fire companies. The Department of Homeland Security’s grant program offers crucial federal support that our firefighters would otherwise be unable to receive and I am proud to see these grants come to the 9th district.”
“We are grateful to receive the Assistance to Firefighters grant. Our fireman work very hard not only responding to emergencies but we also work hard raising enough money just to remain in operation. Grant programs like this help us take our money further so our fireman can spend less time fundraising and spend more time focusing on protecting our community. That makes our job safer and keeps our citizens better protected,” said Scott Price with Trough Creek Valley VFD.
Drew Mease, President of Mount Union Fire Company, said “We would like to thank the Department of Homeland Security for offering this grant program to all fire companies. We feel very fortunate to have been chosen as one of the recipients. The grant goes along way to help ensure that our firefighters are trained and equipped as well as possible. This year’s grant is being utilized to update our turnout gear, to increase the safety of our men and women while they go about doing their best to protect our community and surrounding areas. We would, also, like to extend our appreciation to those that we serve. Without the support of our community, we could not exist. This grant just gives us an opportunity to extend our resources to better serve the community.”
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP) awards one-year grants directly to fire departments to support the nation's firefighters and the services they deliver. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP) administers the program, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. |
