Durbin, Schneider Announce a Nearly a $230,000 Investment in Gurnee First Responder Capabilities

Press Release

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL) announced today that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a $229,469 grant to the Gurnee, Illinois Fire Department. Today's funding will help support and improve the capability of the department to respond to fires and other types of emergencies.

"This federal funding will ensure that when fires or other emergencies occur in our communities, our nation's firefighters and first-responders have access to the best resources they need to do their jobs well and the equipment needed to help protect them as they protect us," Durbin said.

"Our local firefighters, police officers and other first responders work tirelessly to keep our communities safe, selflessly placing themselves in harm's way for the rest of us," Schneider said. "This grant funding will help provide the dedicated men and women at the Gurnee Fire Department with the equipment, resources and support they need to do their job."

The funding is provided through the DHS's Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program which seeks to strengthen the Nation's overall level of preparedness and ability to respond to fire and fire related hazards. Since 2001, the AFG has provided approximately $5.25 billion in federal funding to first-responder organizations across the country to help purchase response equipment, personal protective equipment, training, and vehicles. The AFG is in the process of awarding approximately $320.9 million in competitive grants to fire departments and non-affiliated EMS organizations from Fiscal Year 2013 AFG funding.

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