WASHINGTON – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) on Thursday announced that four Iowa fire departments will receive a total of $261,504 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program for station operations and safety programs. Harkin is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and was a cosponsor of the legislation that authorized this program.
“To ensure the safety and protection of our communities in times of need, Iowa’s firefighters must have the proper equipment and training,” said Harkin. “Today’s funding will provide these fire departments with the resources they need to best serve their communities.”
The AFG Program assists rural, urban, and suburban fire departments throughout the United States, with a particular emphasis placed on rural fire departments. At least 55 percent of the program’s funding must go to fire departments that use volunteer firefighters. This means that smaller towns are not competing against larger cities. Additionally, the program allows smaller communities to contribute less in local funding. In today’s economy, this makes it possible for small fire departments to take advantage of the program.
Details of the funding are as follows:
Seymour Volunteer Fire Department—$42,750
City of Fort Dodge Fire Department—$130,050
Camanche Fire Department—$66,204
West Des Moines Fire Department—$22,500