(Washington, DC)  --  U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-Concord) today announced that four additional fire departments in his congressional district will receive federal funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

 LaTourette said a total of nine rounds of funding have been announced so far for the Fiscal Year 2005 program, and dozens more rounds of funding will be announced until $650 million has been distributed.   More than 900 Ohio fire departments applied for funding this year, and more than 20 departments in the 14th District have received funding already.

 The following fire departments will receive grants for firefighter operations and safety:

 Chardon Volunteer Fire Department       $75,128
 Willoughby Fire Department                  $48,380
 Fairport Harbor Fire Department             $135,698
 Painesville Fire Department                   $53,390

 The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is administered by the U.S. Fire Administration (UFA) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Domestic Preparedness.  It assists rural, urban and suburban fire departments across the country, and funds are used to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, Emergency Medical Service programs, and Fire Prevention and Safety Programs. 

 More than 7,800 grants were awarded nationwide with Fiscal Year 2004 funds.  About 310 departments in Ohio received grants totaling more than $29 million last year.  The local share for the grants is 10 percent for jurisdictions that serve 50,000 or fewer residents, and 30 percent for departments that serve more than 50,000 residents.  Grants are awarded to paid, volunteer and combination departments.