November 13, 2008

(Washington, D.C.) -- U.S. Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) today announced that four fire departments in Beaver County will receive more than $276,000 through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. This funding will help fire departments in Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, Hookstown, and New Brighton improve their operations and safety.

“Local fire departments play an absolutely crucial role in safeguarding our communities yet often struggle to find the funding they need to maintain and improve their operations,” Altmire said. “Assistance for Firefighters Grants, such as the ones we are announcing today, are crucial to ensuring local fire departments can provide the highest quality emergency services. I will continue working to ensure fire departments in Beaver County, and throughout western Pennsylvania, have the resources they need to keep our families safe.”

Over the past two years, Altmire’s office has held three workshops to help cash-strapped fire departments apply for federal grants. Altmire also successfully fought to protect funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program after the President proposed cutting this program’s budget by 60 percent, or $450 million. Had this proposal gone forward, Pennsylvania would have received $39 million less in AFG funding, meaning roughly 434 fewer grants.

The following Beaver County fire departments will receive funding:

• Beaver Falls Fire Department (Beaver Falls, PA) -- $136,325 for operations and safety
• Hanover Volunteer Fire Department (Hookstown, PA) -- $84,508 for vehicle acquisition
• New Brighton Volunteer Fire Department (New Brighton, PA) -- $33,222 for operations and safety
• Raccoon Township Volunteer Fire Department (Aliquippa, PA) -- $21,969 for operations and safety