Senators Stabenow, Levin Announce Support for Great Lakes Bay Region First Responders

U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin today announced support for the Essexville Public Safety Department and Blumfield Township Fire Department to improve operations and safety. The grants come through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

"Our first responders provide critical services to communities across the Great Lakes Bay Region," Stabenow said. "This support will help make sure that the Essexville Public Safety Department and Blumfield Township Fire Department will have the resources they need to protect the public."

"Every day, first responders in Essexville and Blumfield stand ready to protect lives and property in their communities," Levin said. "This grant will support the firefighters and EMTs of Essexville Fire Department and Blumfield Township Fire Department and help them in their vital mission of keeping their communities safe."

Essexville Public Safety Department will receive $36,263, and Blumfield Township Fire Department will receive $2,850 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the Department of Homeland Security.

The awards announced today are for operations and safety improvements, and can fund items such as professional training, wellness and fitness programs and equipment, personal protective gear for firefighters, facilities improvements, and supplies that support firefighting and emergency medical services (EMS) operations.

Fire departments and EMS organizations across the country may apply to the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program in different categories, and their applications must meet certain criteria established by the major fire service organizations. Applications are evaluated in a competitive process by a panel of peers from fire and EMS organizations.

More information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program can be found at www.fema.gov/firegrants.