WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Susan Collins, Co-Chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, and Angus King, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin accepting applications for grant funding through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program on Monday, December 7th at 8:00 a.m. The application period will close on January 15, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

The AFG Program funding assists fire departments and nonaffiliated ambulance and emergency medical service organizations in meeting their firefighting and emergency response needs.  The program provides federal funding that enables these organizations to purchase equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources to better protect the public and emergency personnel.

“The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program provides invaluable support to protect the firefighters and emergency health professionals who risk their lives protecting us every day,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement. “We encourage Maine fire departments and emergency organizations to utilize this program for help obtaining the vital resources they need to do their jobs.”

Grant guidance for fire departments and other organizations interested in applying for AFG grants is available at www.grants.gov and at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants/afggrants/index.shtm. Applicants that require assistance should go to www.fema.gov/grants, or contact the AFG Help Desk at firegrants@fema.gov or by calling 1-866-274-0960.

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