Manchin, Rockefeller Announce $188,257 for Washington Bottom, Belington Volunteer Fire Departments
Washington, D.C. – United States Senator Joe Manchin III (D-W. VA.) today announced that West Virginia’s First Congressional District will receive a total of $188,257 under the Operations and Safety Division of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program.
The following fire departments will receive funding:
Washington Bottom Volunteer Fire Department ($52,773)
Belington Volunteer Fire Department Inc. ($135,484)
This funding may be used to purchase updated response equipment, new personal protective equipment and vehicles. The grants may also go toward modernizing the station and its facilities, as well as training firefighter personnel.
“The hardworking volunteers at our local fire departments are often first on the scene in an emergency, making sure that the people of West Virginia are safe and well cared for,” Manchin said. “These grants will provide our first responders – who sacrifice so much – with essential resources to make sure that they too are kept safe.”
“The people of West Virginia count on firefighters to be there for our communities – their jobs are among the most important and skilled in the country,” said Rockefeller. “They deserve access to the best gear, training and other materials they need to do their important jobs. This money is going to help supply our brave firefighters with the tools and equipment they need and that is great news."
To date, West Virginia’s First Congressional district has received a total of $439,360 through the AFG program in 2011. AFG awards were also granted to Folsom Volunteer Fire Department ($209,000) and Moundsville Volunteer Fire Department ($42,103).
AFG grants are funded through the annual Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act.
# # #
Next Article Previous Article
