East Haddam, Chester fire departments receive grants

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today $4.6 million in direct assistance grants to 85 fire departments nationwide through the agency’s FY2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant COVID-19 Supplemental program (AFG-S). Additional phases will soon be announced.

The AFG-S Program includes grants to the CHester Fire Department and the East Haddam Fire Department. Chester is receiving $8,707, and East Haddam is receiving $15,639.

The Fiscal Year 2020 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program – COVID-19 Supplemental (AFG-S) is a supplemental funding opportunity under the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). AFG is one of three FEMA grant programs that focus on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire-related hazards. The AFG-S Program accomplishes this by providing financial assistance directly to eligible fire departments, nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations, and State Fire Training Academies for critical Personal Protective Equipment and supplies needed to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The AFG-S Program represents part of a comprehensive set of measures authorized by Congress and implemented by the Department of Homeland Security.

FEMA obligates funding for this project directly to the recipient agencies. It is the recipient agency’s responsibility to manage their grant award within federal guidelines with technical assistance and monitoring provided by FEMA Fire Program Specialists.

Additional information about FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters grant program(s) may be found at https://www.fema.gov/firegrants