Robert Menendez

Lautenberg, Menendez Announce $460,000 For Colonia Volunteer Fire Department

August 2, 2012

Newark – Today, U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced that the Colonia Volunteer Fire Department has received $460,000 in federal funding to recruit new firefighters through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program. 

The funding, which expands programs established at the department through a SAFER grant awarded in 2006, will support recruiting efforts including training programs and the department's Higher Education Initiative, which provides tuition assistance for volunteer firefighters.

“This federal grant will help the Colonia Fire Department recruit the volunteer firefighters it needs to keep the community safe,” said Senator Lautenberg, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which funds the SAFER program. “Volunteer firefighters risk their lives to protect our families, and I will continue fighting for federal funds to staff and equip New Jersey fire departments.”

“Even in these difficult economic times, the safety of our communities has to be a top priority,”said Menendez. “This funding will help ensure that Colonia Volunteer Fire Department has the resources and top-flight personnel that they need to continue protecting local families effectively.”

As Vice Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Lautenberg has worked to provide sufficient funding for the SAFER program.  The SAFER grant program provides funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations in order to help them increase the number of trained “front line” firefighters in their communities.

The latest application period for SAFER grants is now open. Fire departments interested in applying can visit Senator Lautenberg's grant page: http://lautenberg.senate.gov/services/grants.cfm#FEMA.

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