Barletta Announces SAFER Fire & Emergency Grants Available

WASHINGTON – Congressman Lou Barletta (PA-11) today announced that local fire departments and emergency response companies can now apply for federal grants to help with staffing and providing around the clock emergency services to their communities.  The grant application period has opened for grants for local fire departments under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program from the Department of Homeland Security.  The application period runs until Friday, February 10, 2017 at 5:00 p.m.

“Our fire departments and emergency responders are the first line of defense in our neighborhoods when disaster strikes,” Barletta said.  “We must do anything we can do to help people be safe in our communities.” 

There is currently $345 million available for the SAFER Grant Program to assist fire departments and volunteer interest organizations increase or maintain the number of trained “front line” firefighters available in their communities.  The SAFER Grant Program seeks to assist local fire departments with staffing and deployment capabilities in order to respond to emergencies, assuring communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards.  The grants are available to volunteer, professional, or combination fire departments. 

For more information, please visit http://www.fema.gov/staffing-adequate-fire-emergency-response-grants.  Additionally, interested organizations may contact Mike Shay at Rep. Barletta’s Hazleton office at (570) 751-0050 or by email at Michael.Shay@mail.house.gov.