Fire Chief Richard Brady said it is the first time he has applied for such a sizable grant.
“I honestly didn’t think I would get it, so I was surprised when I heard the town would be awarded this federal grant,” he said.
U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, met with Brady, state Rep. Brian Ashe, D-Longmeadow, and Board of Selectmen Chairman James D. Driscoll to discuss the grant.
“Congressmen can be really helpful when it comes to getting these grants, but the grant application must really stand on its own, and I commend Chief Brady for a job well done,” Neal said.
Neal said the grant is very competitive, with only a few local communities getting money, including Springfield, South Hadley and Agawam.
Brady said the money will be used to reimburse the town for the fire department’s portion of the radio system.
During a special election in June 2011, voters supported a ballot question that allowed the town to pay for a $1.3 million public safety radio update.
The Proposition 2½ debt exclusion override will cost homeowners with a home valued at $250,000 about $50 in taxes each year for the life of the five-year bond.
Driscoll said the grant is a huge help to the town.
“For a small town like ours with a $50 million budget, a grant like this goes a long way,” he said.
The public safety radio system will include handheld and mounted radios as well as a new computer for the fire department dispatch center.
Brady said the new system, which was mandated by the state, must be in place by December. He said the system helps police, fire and other town departments communicate clearly, which is especially useful in emergency situations.