Rep. Costello Visits Downington to Announce Assistance to Firefighters Grant

Press Release

Rep. Ryan Costello (PA-06) recently visited Minquas Fire Company to announce an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The regional grant in the amount of $238,974 will help provide equipment for both Minquas Fire Company and Good Fellowship Ambulance, including self-loading stretchers for ambulances.

"It's great news for our fire and ambulance services that they have been awarded this federal grant. It will help equip first responders at Minquas Fire Company and Good Fellowship Ambulance to ensure they are prepared to do their critical work effectively and safely," said Rep. Costello.

"The FEMA 2016 Assistance to Firefighter's Grant was a regional grant between Minquas Fire Company EMS and Good Fellowship Ambulance for state of the art self-loading powerlift stretchers, and it integrates the newest safety standards with technology to improve patient safety, provider safety, and continues to put us on the forefront of being progressive services while allowing us interoperability between the two companies because we do provide a lot of mutual aid," said Brad Cosgrove, Battalion Chief, Minquas Fire Company No. 2.

Since coming to Congress, Rep. Costello has signed onto funding requests for the AFG program, as well as for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant program. Both of these grants are awarded through a competitive process to career and volunteer fire departments, and both grants are intended to help meet equipment, training, and staffing needs.

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