Maloney Announces Major Investment of Nearly $1 Million for Poughkeepsie Fire Department

Press Release

Today, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney announced a major investment of $959,455 for the Poughkeepsie Fire Department to hire new full-time firefighters. This investment, secured through the Department of Homeland Security, will allow the department to hire seven new firefighters. Maloney was joined by members of the fire department, including Chief Mark Johnson, as well as Dutchess County Executive Mark Molinaro and Mayor John Tkazyik of the City of Poughkeepsie.

"Our Poughkeepsie firefighters risk their lives every day to protect our neighbors -- this investment for Poughkeepsie not only creates new, good-paying jobs, but it gives our firefighters the support they need to continue keeping our community safe," said Rep. Maloney. "Working together with a bipartisan team of local leaders we were able to deliver this investment to strengthen and improve staffing at the Poughkeepsie Fire Department, and help make the city and surrounding communities in Dutchess County safer."

"I'd like to thank Congressman Maloney and his staff for assisting the City of Poughkeepsie in securing this most needed SAFER grant. This grant will allow us to hire seven new firefighters which will increase our staffing levels to a safe and efficient status for the city residents and its firefighters," said City of Poughkeepsie Fire Chief Mark Johnson.

"The safety of our Dutchess County residents is of the utmost importance, and these firefighters will bring much-needed manpower to the City of Poughkeepsie's department," said Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro. "The additional firefighters, who will be hired thanks to this grant, will bring the City's department back closer toward its previous staffing level and provide the City's residents with added protection. Dutchess County and I are grateful for the support Rep. Maloney has provided us by securing this grant -- just the latest example of his bipartisan efforts to keep the County and the Hudson Valley safe. We appreciate his efforts and look forward to working with him again to enhance the County we both cherish."

While the City of Poughkeepsie's initial applications for SAFER investments were rejected, the office of Rep. Maloney worked closely with leaders from the Fire Department, the City and County, and officials at the Department of Homeland Security to strengthen the most recent application and worked throughout the process to ensure success. The Poughkeepsie Fire Department also took advantage of an information session and grant workshop hosted by Rep. Maloney's office that helps local governments strengthen funding applications and make personal connections with federal granting agencies. A letter the Representative wrote to FEMA advocating for the investment can be found here.

The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response program (SAFER) is a funding initiative designed to strengthen the nation's ability to respond to fire and fire-related hazards and improve the nation's overall level of preparedness. The goal of any SAFER grant is to enhance the ability of grantees to attain and maintain 24-hour staffing and to assure that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis to the applicants that most closely address the program's priorities and demonstrate financial need. More information on the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program can be accessed at: LINK.

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