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

 LaTourette said Willoughby will receive $141,649 in federal funds to purchase 36 Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA).  The new SCBAs will replace old and obsolete equipment that does not meet current safety standards. Concord Township will receive $75,913 in federal funds to replace a 20-year-old piece of extraction equipment known as Jaws of Life. 

 Grants will be announced weekly until $750 million has been awarded to departments across the country, LaTourette said.

 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.  About 8,000 departments are expected to receive grants with Fiscal Year 2004 funds.  More than 20,000 departments nationwide applied for grants.

 The local share for these 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.