Stabenow, Levin Announce Grant for Star Township Fire Department

Star Township Fire Department will receive a federal grant to help improve its operations and boost safety in the community, U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin announced today. The department will receive $33,345 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"Across Northern Michigan, our firefighters provide courageous service to communities like Alba," Stabenow said. "This grant will help make sure they have the resources they need to perform their duties safely and protect the public."

"Firefighters and emergency medical personnel stand ready every day to respond to fires and other emergencies," Levin said. "This grant will help Star Township Fire Department carry out its vital mission of protecting lives and property in their community."

The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program allows fire departments across the country to compete for federal grant money in several categories. The award announced today is from the Operations and Safety program, which helps local fire departments improve operations and safety by providing firefighter training or personal protective equipment, modifying existing facilities or buying supplies. 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.