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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 23, 2005	Contact:	Levin Press Office 202-228-3685 (Levin) Dave Lemmon 202-224-4822 (Stabenow)

Senators Levin, Stabenow Announce $1.25 Million in Firefighter Grants for Michigan

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., announced today that 18 Michigan communities have received $1,253,940 in grants from the Department of Homeland Security through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.

“Day in and day out, our firefighters stand ready to save lives and protect property,” Levin said. “This grant program helps fire departments across Michigan carry out their vital mission of protecting their community.”

“These FEMA firefighter grants allow communities all across Michigan to address their own local needs, such as expanding prevention programs, enhancing firefighting skills, or replacing essential firefighting vehicles,” Stabenow said. “In this way, local fire departments are made stronger and our communities safer.”

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Domestic Preparedness in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration manages the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which awards one-year grants directly to fire departments. The fire departments agree to match a percentage of the federal grant. Fire departments that serve communities of 50,000 or fewer provide a cost-share of 10 percent; fire departments for jurisdictions over 50,000 provide a 30 percent cost-share.

Fire departments can apply for grants in one of three program areas: Operations and Firefighter Safety; Fire Prevention Program; and Firefighting Vehicles Acquisition Program. The Operations and Firefighter Safety Program includes training, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and modifications to fire stations and facilities. The Fire Prevention Program focuses on public education and awareness activities, fire code enforcement, fire inspection certification, and purchase and installation of smoke alarms and fire suppression systems. The Firefighting Vehicles Acquisition Program allows departments to purchase vehicles such as pumpers, brush trucks, rescue vehicles, ambulances and fireboats.

Funding has been provided as follows:

Organization Name	Program Area	Federal Share	City
Barton City Volunteer Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$84,475	Barton City
City of Northville Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$55,350	Northville
Fowlerville Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$59,063	Fowlerville
Coldsprings-Excelcior Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station 6	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$40,229	Kalkaska
Bridgeport Charter Township Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$37,215	Bridgeport
Carson City Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$54,925	Carson City
Kinross Township Volunteer Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$35,676	Kincheloe
Charter Township of Lansing Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$40,050	Lansing
Byron Township Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$26,919	Byron Center
Dickson Township fire department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$35,919	Brethren
Paw Paw Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$35,819	Paw Paw
Detroit Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$350,700	Detroit
Marion Township Fire Department	Firefighting Vehicle	$167,400	Brant
Flat Rock Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$47,700	Flat Rock
Norton Shores Fire Department	Fire Prevention	$78,703	Norton Shores
South Haven Area Emergency Services Authority	Fire Prevention	$9,097	South Haven
Potterville/ Benton Twp Fire Department	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$38,700	Potterville
Dearborn	Operations and Firefighter Safety	$56,000	Dearborn

More information on the grant program is available at http://www.firegrantsupport.com/. Fire departments can also call the fire grants help desk toll free at 1-866-274-0960 or e-mail firegrants@dhs.gov.