Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., (GA-02) is pleased to announce that the City of Centerville Public Safety Department has been awarded $47,619.04 for an Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“Our first responders play a vital role in ensuring the safety and health of Georgians. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program helps departments purchase new, quality equipment which helps protect those who put their life on the line to protect us,” said Congressman Bishop. “I am proud to stand with our first responders in Congress. On the House Appropriations Committee, I will continue to fight against attempts to cut funding for federal programs aimed at supporting our first responders such as the Assistance to Firefighters Grant.”

“I would like to thank our elected officials for voting to keep the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program in the Federal Budget.  If it weren't for Grant Programs such as these many fire departments would not be able to provide much-needed safety equipment, apparatus, personal protective equipment, or other items that different agencies may need to better serve the communities in which we all live. Centerville is appreciative of the funding opportunities that the AFG Program provides us,” said Centerville Fire Chief Jason Jones.

As a senior member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Bishop fought to secure strong funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program in the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) federal spending bill. FEMA awarded a total of $324 million in Assistance to Firefighters grants in FY23 which supported the safety of the public and firefighters nationwide, helping protect them against fire-related deaths and hazards. Funding is given for critically needed resources to better equip and train emergency response personnel, enhance operational efficiencies, foster communications interoperability between emergency responders and support community risk reduction and resilience.

In the last 18 months, more than $5,000,000 federal funds have been awarded to Middle and Southwest Georgia’s first responders, including Assistance to Firefighters Grants for Grady County, Crawford County, and Schley County as well as the City of Montezuma’s fire departments. Additional federal funds have been secured to improve first responders’ communications equipment in Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Early, Grady, Miller, Seminole, Terrell, and Thomas Counties.

Fire departments interested in learning more about the program and how they can apply for funding in future cycles should visit FEMA’s website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/preparedness/firefighters/assistance-grants.