New Hampshire Congressional Delegation Announces More than $2.9 Million in Federal Funding to Support Granite State Firefighters

(Manchester, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee and Chair of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, announced with U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded more than $2.9 million in federal funding to support Granite State firefighters through its Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. These grants will allow firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources necessary for protecting the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

"Firefighters and first responders bravely serve their communities and put their lives on the line every day to do so. It’s critical that these heroes have the training, equipment and resources they need to do their jobs,” said Senator Shaheen. “As a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, I will continue working in Congress to secure funding for Granite State firefighters and our first responders who work tirelessly to keep our families safe.”

“New Hampshire’s courageous fire fighters work to protect Granite Staters every day, and it is crucial that they have access to the resources and equipment that they need to save lives,” said Senator Hassan. “I am glad to see new federal funding coming to fire departments across our state for gear, training, and equipment that fire fighters need to do their jobs safely and effectively. In Congress, we recently worked together across the aisle to continue the programs that provide this funding for local fire departments, and I will keep working to support our brave first responders.”

"Our first responders risk their lives and sacrifice so much to keep our communities safe," said Congresswoman Kuster. "We must work to ensure they have the resources and staffing they need. FEMA's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants are critical programs that allow fire and EMS agencies across the country to access the resources and staffing they need to save lives while reducing the financial strain on local communities. I'm proud to support these programs and thrilled to see critical resources coming to our state to help make our communities safer and more resilient."

“New Hampshire firefighters put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect our communities. It’s critical they have the tools, training, and equipment to do their jobs safely,” said Congressman Pappas. “This funding will help New Hampshire fire departments upgrade equipment and gear as well as support training. I’ll continue working to return federal dollars to support the vital work of New Hampshire firefighters and first responders.”

As a senior member of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen has consistently fought to support New Hampshire firefighters. During the ongoing FY 2025 appropriations process, Shaheen pushed to increase funding to $385 million for both the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) programs following cuts in FY 2024. If signed into law, the FY 2025 proposal would provide a combined $122 million increase in funding for firefighters from FY 2024 levels.

Senator Hassan has led efforts to support New Hampshire firefighters, helping advance the bipartisan Fire Grants and Safety Act through the Senate Homeland Security Committee and the Senate. The bill was recently signed into law, renewing and extending until 2028 the AFG and SAFER programs that funded the grants announced today.

Last year, the New Hampshire Delegation celebrated more than $1 million in AFG grants to New Hampshire Fire Departments and have consistently worked to ensure that New Hampshire fire departments benefit from this program. Both Senators Shaheen and Hassan sent letters in support of the Errol Fire Department to obtain a tanker vehicle and a grant for the Berlin Fire Department in 2022 to replace its fire engine that had been in service since 1979. Members of the delegation have advocated for many of the grants to New Hampshire stations that were announced today.   

The following cities and towns received grants through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program this year: