Shaheen, Hassan and Kuster Announce More Than $1.3 Million in Federal Grant Funding in Support of Granite State Firefighters

(Washington, DC) – Today, Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced with Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded $1,326,944 in federal funding in support of Granite State firefighters throughout the state through the agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) program. The AFG grants include $268,877 for the Milford Fire Department, $232,041 to the Hudson Fire Department and $112,429 for the Canterbury Fire Department, empowering the three towns with federal resources to purchase firefighter breathing apparatuses, as well as $56,662 for the Chichester Fire Department to acquire a source capture fume exhaust system for fire department vehicles. Additionally, the Goffstown Fire Department was awarded $656,935 in SAFER grant funding to hire four new firefighters.

The AFG program provides direct financial assistance to eligible fire departments in order to enhance the safety of firefighters and the public, while SAFER grants provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities.

“Firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our communities and we need to make sure they have the equipment they need to do their jobs. These grants will help fill safety needs within these fire departments,” said Senator Shaheen, who helped to secure this funding as a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which is responsible for funding AFG and SAFER grants. “I’m very pleased that Milford, Hudson, Canterbury, Chichester and Goffstown have been awarded these resources and I’ll continue to fight in the Senate to ensure our brave firefighters throughout the state have what they need to do their jobs safely and efficiently.”

“I’m incredibly grateful for our first responders who put their lives on the line to keep our communities safe,” said Senator Hassan. “These grants will help Granite State fire departments hire more personnel and get the equipment they need. I’m pleased to join with my colleagues to announce this federal funding and will continue to be a strong advocate in the Senate for our first responders.”

“Firefighters put their safety and lives on the line to help others during emergencies, and it’s so important they have access to the tools and support they need to do their jobs,” said Congresswoman Kuster, who has advocated on behalf of Granite State fire departments and worked with the House Appropriations Committee to secure robust funding for the SAFER and AFG grant programs. “This funding will provide firefighters with upgraded equipment, which will help protect their safety and the safety of the general public – a win-win situation. I will continue to advocate for funding to support our emergency responders.”