U.S. REP. JIM MCGOVERN ANNOUNCES $75,272 FOR NORTHBOROUGH FIRE DEPARTMENT

Contact: Michael Mershon
(202) 225-6101

January 13, 2005

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern and today announced that the Northborough Fire Department has been awarded $75,600 in funding under the 2004 Assistance to Firefighter Grant program. Specifically the funding is being made available under the Firefighting Vehicles Acquisition Program.

The Firefighting Vehicles grants can be used for equipment including pumpers, brush trucks, tankers/tenders, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units and fireboats.

"I'm very pleased that Northborough will be receiving this funding," Rep. McGovern said. "I believe that homeland security starts with hometown security. Chief David Durgin and his team at the Northborough Fire Department are being properly recognized for their great work. It's critical that we provide local first responders with the resources they need to protect our communities. The federal government must be a partner in that effort. I will continue to be a strong supporter of this Assistance to Firefighter Grant program, and I'll work to maintain its funding in Congress."

The Assistance for Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments throughout the United States. On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident.

More information can be found at www.firegrantsupport.com.