Frank announces $1.3 million federal grant for Taunton Fire Department

Congressman Barney Frank announced today that the City of Taunton’s Fire Department will receive a $1,345,784.00 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  The grant was awarded as part of FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant Program (SAFER).

These federal dollars will allow the Taunton Fire Department to hire greatly-needed additional full-time firefighters. Since 2009, shrinking municipal budgets have meant that firefighting vacancies in the fire department have gone unfilled.

New firefighting hires will bring the department in to compliance with National Fire Prevention Association standards, helping to enable the city to keep fire stations open and minimizing the time it takes to respond to emergencies.

“I am proud to have worked with the city to win this important infusion of federal funds to help the city fight fires” said Congressman Frank in announcing the grant.
“It’s a tribute to the high regard that the Taunton Fire Department and the city administration are held in Washington. It is also an example of the importance of adequately-funded federal programs that help cities in a time of economic trouble. The continuation of this program is one of the things that will be decided in the next election a month from now.”

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