WASHINGTON, D.C.–Today, Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty (CT-5), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) applauded the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s(FEMA) decision to award over $337,000 in funding through its Assistance to Firefighters grant (AFG) program to the Cities of New Britain and Waterbury. Through the AFG program, the City of New Britain Fire Department will receive $42,662 for its operations and safety needs while the City of Waterbury Fire Department will receive $295,264 for its regional support needs, for a total of $337,926 in federal funds.

“Today’s awards ensure that our firefighters and emergency responders will continue to faithfully serve residents in New Britain and Waterbury. Day in and day out, firefighters selflessly and heroically put their lives on the line in order to save others. It is incredibly important that our first responders have access to the best equipment and training necessary to do their jobs safely and effectively. These federal dollars will go a long way in ensuring fire departments in New Britain and Waterbury can continue to do what they do best—save lives and protect our communities,” said Esty, Blumenthal, Murphy and DeLauro.

Since 2001, FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighter grant program has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

 

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