WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson today announced two more awards for area fire departments as part of the fourth round of grants made available through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Program.

The grants announced today will provide $59,274 to the Milford Fire Department and $48,820 to the Savoy Fire Department. The grants are made available on a merit basis and in each case, Rep. Johnson assisted the departments in working with the Department of Homeland Security to secure the grants.

In the last two weeks, 16 grants have been announced for departments throughout the 22 counties of the 15th Congressional District.

Rep. Johnson, R-Urbana, said the grants are critical to keep the departments’ firefighting capabilities up to modern standards.

 “For the kinds of situations these men and women face, they deserve to have state-of-the-art equipment and training available to them,” Rep. Johnson said. “That’s what these grants accomplish and I’m happy to do what I can to make it happen.”

 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security received approximately 21,000 applications for nearly $3 billion in funding. Funding priorities were established based on recommendations from major national fire service organizations and applications were peer-reviewed this spring. Funds should be obligated by December.

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