FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 28, 2004

LARSON ANNOUNCES $460,000 FEDERAL GRANT FOR HARTFORD FIRE DEPARTMENT

HARTFORD- U.S. Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01) today announced that the City of Hartford's Fire Department has been awarded a $460,000 federal homeland security grant. The funding was awarded under the Fire Operations and Firefighter Safety portion of the Assistance to Firefighters grant program. The funding will be used to purchase and upgrade communications equipment and software to improve resources of personnel at the scene of an emergency.

"I am thrilled that the City of Hartford has been awarded this valuable grant," said Larson. "This funding will help the fire department continue to do a tremendous job protecting the lives and property of the citizens of Hartford. This grant helps to ensure that our front line emergency responders have the communications capabilities and equipment they need."

The grant for Hartford was one of 121 Assistance to Firefighters grants announced by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in this round of announcements. Since June 2003, over 8,000 fire departments have received over $632 million to support their role as first responders in the communities they serve.

In May 2003, Larson wrote a letter to the U.S. Fire Administrator in the Assistance to Firefighters Grants office asking that Hartford be awarded the funding.

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