Hinchey pushes availability of $25M for volunteer fire departments
Applications are now available to volunteer fire departments seeking to receive funding from a $25 million pool developed by Senator Michelle Hinchey, her office said. Hinchey, D-Saugerties, said the funding is being made available from the Volunteer Fire Infrastructure & Response Equipment Grant Program, which she said she developed as part of the state budget.
Volunteer fire departments across New York State can now apply for grant funding through the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to support equipment and building upgrades, Hinchey’s office said.
“New York’s first-ever Volunteer Fire Services Capital Fund is finally open — a huge win for our first responders and local taxpayers that I’m proud to have led the charge in creating,” Hinchey said in a statement. “This new capital fund is not only an investment in the safety of our communities but also in the first responders who are always there to answer the call.”
“Raising capital funds for vital long-lasting public safety items like fire apparatus, building improvements, and new fire stations is especially important to our rural fire departments.” Said Edward Tase, Jr., president of the Firefighters Association of the State of New York in a statement. “FASNY encourages all fire departments with a qualifying need to apply for one of these grants.”
Don Corkery, president of the Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York, said the grants are important to local fire districts.
“These grants will help local fire departments and fire districts relieve some of the financial burdens they face and provide savings to taxpayers,” Corkery said.
Administered by the State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, two funding options are available through the grant program:
• $20 million is available
for construction, renovation, and/or facility purchase projects, including fire stations, substations, joint/shared stations, fire training towers, instructional classrooms and meeting spaces, exhaust systems, and shower facilities for decontamination. Eligible applicants can apply for up to $1,000,000.
• $5 million is available for fire service equipment projects, including personal protective equipment (PPE), PPE washer/ extractor, PPE dryers, radios/communications equipment, rehab equipment, and mask service unit/air compressors. Eligible applicants can apply for up to $500,000.
The application deadline is April 30, 2024, by 5 p.m., and is available at https://www.dhses.ny.gov/ state-funded-programs.