Press Releases
Mar 02 2007
Graham and DeMint Announce More Than $790,000 in Grants for Fire Departments in South Carolina
Wes Hickman (202-224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864-250-1417)
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Jim DeMint today announced more than $790,000 in grants to fire departments in Beaufort, Blacksburg, Daufuskie Island, Gaffney, Greenwood, Jenkinsville, and Union.
“Firefighters and emergency service personnel dedicate themselves to protecting the health and safety of South Carolinians,” said Graham. “These grants will help our local fire departments by providing them the means to obtain the best equipment and training available.”
“South Carolina's firefighters risk their lives to protect our families each day and I'm proud they have been awarded these competitive grants,” said Senator DeMint.
The grants were awarded in one of two program areas:
Operations and Firefighter Safety Program: The funds may be used for training, wellness, and fitness programs; the purchase of firefighting equipment and personal protective equipment; and modifications to fire stations and facilities.
Firefighting Vehicle Acquisition Program: The funds may be used for the purchase of firefighting vehicles including pumpers, brush trucks, tankers, rescue vehicles, ambulances, quints, aerials, foam units, and fireboats.
The grants awarded include:
Beaufort
Beaufort Fire Department will receive a $72,637 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.
Blacksburg
Blacksburg Fire Department will receive a $105,963 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.
Daufuskie Island
Daufuskie Island Fire District will receive a $42,180 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.
Gaffney
Gaffney Fire Department will receive an $85,271 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.
Grassy Pond Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $66,415 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.
Greenwood
Northwest Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department will receive a $62,114 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.
Jenkinsville
Jenkinsville Monticello Horeb Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $213,864 Vehicle Acquisition Grant.
Union
Cross Keys Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $37,193 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.
Winnsboro
Fairfield Community Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $106,146 Operations and Firefighter Safety Grant.
The Assistance to Firefighters grant program awards one-year grants directly to local fire departments, enhancing their ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards in the community. The program supports departments by providing them the tools and resources necessary to protect the health and safety of the public and their firefighting personnel.
Grantees share in the cost of the funded project at a percentage based on the population of their respective jurisdiction. Grantees that serve jurisdictions of 50,000 or fewer residents are required to provide a non-Federal cost-share of 10 percent while grantees that serve jurisdictions of over 50,000 provide a 30 percent cost-share. The match must be in cash without the use of in-kind contributions. In addition, the maximum amount of federal funds that an applicant can be awarded is $750,000 during any fiscal year.
The grants are made by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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