Park Forest Fire Department awarded $320,071 federal grant
CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–September 27, 2016. Congresswoman Robin Kelly announced today that eight fire departments in the South Suburbs and Kankakee County have received a total of more than $2.6 million in federal grants that will fund additional hiring, vehicle acquisition and emergency equipment.
“One of my central priorities as a lawmaker is to assist our fire departments and other public safety agencies in securing the federal funding necessary to protect our citizens and first responders,” Congresswoman Kelly said. “These 13 individual grant awards will ensure that our first responders have ample personnel and state-of-the-art equipment to keep our communities safe and to carry out their work safety and effectively.”
The Country Club Hills Fire Department received two grants totaling $716,000 to hire three additional full-time firefighters-paramedics and to purchase 34 new breathing apparatus units.
“The grants will allow us to provide greater safety to our community and to our firefighters,” Country Club Hills Fire Chief Roger Agpawa said.
The University Park Fire Department will use two grants totaling $741,298 to hire two new firefighter-paramedics and purchase a new fire engine scheduled for delivery in December.
Two grants equaling $320,071 will allow the Park Forest Department to replace a 15-year-old fire prevention education trailer used to teach fire safety at schools and 29 obsolete breathing apparatus units.
The grants were awarded through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The purpose of the grants is to enhance the ability of fire departments and other emergency management organizations to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responders.
Fire Departments receiving grant awards were:
Country Club Hills Fire Department $716,008
Glenwood Fire Department – $140,949
University Park Fire Department – $741,298
Park Forest Fire Department – $320,071
Riverdale Fire Department – $322,998
Phoenix Fire Department – $20,764
Pembroke Fire Department – $346,159
Kankakee Fire Department $19,819
Source: http://robinkelly.house.gov
