NEWARK - Today, U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ)announced that theVineland, Voorhees and LakehurstFire Departments have received more than $790,000 in federal funding to hire and recruitnew firefighters through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program.
"While local governments across New Jersey are forced to make difficult budget cuts, this federal grant will helpVineland, Voorhees, and Lakehurst hire and recruitthe firefighters they need to keep their communities safe,"said Senator Lautenberg, Vice Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, which funds the SAFER program."I will continue fighting to help ensure that New Jersey's local fire departments are well staffed and equipped to protect our families."
"This is great news for Vineland, Voorhees and Lakehurst fire departments and even greater news for the families who rely on them in an emergency,"said Menendez."Keeping neighborhoods safe is our top priority and I will always fight to ensure our first responders have the tools they need to protect our families."
The $790,000 in SAFER grant funding will be distributed as follows:
Vineland Fire Department--$365,452 to hire new firefighters
Voorhees Fire District--$334,000 to hire new firefighters
Lakehurst Volunteer Fire CompanyNo. 1--$94,400 to recruit newfirefighters.
As Vice Chairman of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Lautenberg has worked to providefunding 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.
For more information about the program, visit:http://www.fema.gov/firegrants/safer/.
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