February 20, 2013
Harkin Announces More than $143,000 in Firefighter Assistance for Iowa
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that two Iowa fire departments will receive a total of $143,941 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFP) Program. The funds will be used to increase the effectiveness of fire operations and to support fire fighter safety. Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and was a cosponsor of the legislation that authorized this program.
“It is important that we do all that we can to keep Iowans safe and ensure that our firefighters have adequate resources,” said Harkin. “This grant will allow the Saylor Township and Deloit Fire Departments to acquire more vehicles and to improve and update operations and safety procedures to better assist Iowa’s citizens when they need help the most.”
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.
Details of the funding below:
The Saylor Township Fire Department (Polk County) – $133,966
The Deloit Fire Department (Crawford County) — $9,975