Congressman Andrews Announces $334k Federal Grant for More Firefighters in Voorhees

Today, Congressman Rob Andrews announced that Voorhees Township will receive a $334,000 boost in federal funding to hire firefighters. The funds were awarded through the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a program that provides $400 million in grants nationwide for rehiring laid-off firefighters and retaining those whose jobs are in jeopardy due to budget constraints.

"Not only will this federal grant allow the Voorhees Fire District to maximize its number of firefighters protecting the community, but it does so without putting any additional burden on the Township's budget and local taxpayers," said Congressman Andrews.

SAFER grants are awarded on a competitive basis depending on a department's financial and staffing needs. In each application, FEMA considers the grant's impact on the department's daily operations and prioritizes its awards based on how the community and current firefighters are at risk without the newly funded positions. For more information about the SAFER grant, please visit www.nfpa.org/SAFERActGrant.

Source