Washington, Jul 3 -

Today, Congressman Patrick McHenry announced a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant for $199,500 to a local fire department in the Tenth Congressional District.

The grant will go to the Bakersville Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) in Mitchell County, and comes in the first round of this year’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG), which aims to help firefighters and first responders throughout the country.  Local departments applied for the grants, and the program is administered by the Department’s Preparedness Directorate’s Office of Grants and Training. 

The funds are designated as a Vehicle Acquisition Grant and will be used to purchase a new fire engine. 

“This is the second consecutive year that Bakersville has received an AFG Grant,” Congressman McHenry stated.  “This grant will allow the department to acquire a new fire engine to protect the lives and property of the people of Mitchell County.  I was thankful for the opportunity to visit the Bakersville fire station recently and look forward to returning to see the new truck when it arrives.”

Bakersville was one of two departments in the Tenth District to receive AFG funding in the first round of this year’s grant cycle.  Last fiscal year, twenty-eight departments in the Tenth Congressional District received AFG funding for a total of $3,138,123 in funds disbursed.  At least two departments in each of the ten counties of the Tenth Congressional District received AFG Grants. 

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