FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Ferraguto
January 8, 2004
(617) 428-2007
SENATOR KENNEDY AND CONGRESSMAN LYNCH ANNOUNCE
FEMA FIRE GRANT FOR CITY OF BROCKTON
Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Congressman Stephen F. Lynch announced today that the City of Brockton has been awarded a Fire Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and United States Fire Administration (USFA). The federally-funded award, in the amount of $99,266, will be used to fund the installation of vehicle exhaust extraction systems in each of the department’s six stations.
Congressman Lynch advocated on behalf of Brockton’s application with the U.S. Fire Administrator at FEMA in Washington, R. David Paulison. Brockton is the sixth community in the Ninth Congressional District to receive an award in Fiscal Year 2003.
Funded by Congress, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is designed to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, EMS programs, and Fire Prevention and Safety Programs. Since June, FEMA and USFA have awarded more than $604 million in fire grants to 7600 cities and towns across the country. The total of all FY 2003 awards will represent a $750 million investment to enhance fire and EMS service delivery throughout the United States.
“This is great news for the City of Brockton,” said Senator Kennedy. “Our nation's first responders risk their lives each day to help ensure the safety of every family in their community. This funding will help to make sure they have the most state-of-the-art equipment to help those in need.”
Congressman Lynch said, “This grant award marks the end of a four-year campaign by Chief Ken Galligan to secure the funding and support needed to make important technological upgrades to all of Brockton’s six fire stations to better protect the health and safety of the men and women of the Brockton Fire Department and their neighbors. It’s clear that his leadership and determination on this issue were critical factors in FEMA’s decision to deliver this funding to Brockton.”
Nearly 20,000 fire departments - volunteer and career - applied for grant awards last year, submitting requests totaling almost $2.5 billion. A lengthy peer review, involving 300 fire service representatives from throughout the United States, was conducted by the USFA over the past several months. Brockton was one of just 347 fire departments nationwide, 11 of which are in Massachusetts, selected in this round of awards.
Congressman Lynch has been working closely with each of the cities and towns in the Ninth Congressional District on their applications for federal grants under the Fire Act, and additional funding for first responders made available after September 11th. Lynch added, “Mayor Yunits and the Brockton City Council are doing an extraordinary job of continuing to provide essential services for the people of Brockton during these difficult economic times. And Chief Galligan and Police Chief Studenski are doing everything they can to supplement their budgets with state and federal grants. I’m hopeful that this additional federal funding will help to reduce some of the burden on taxpayers and their families.”