The Jersey City Fire Department and North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue will be receiving nearly $10 million in combined federal funding including SAFER, AFG and PGSP grants, officials said.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I want to congratulate the Jersey City Fire Department and the North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue for their receipts of these vital grants,†U.S. Rep. Albio Sires (D-8) said in a statement.
“Firefighters play an important role in keeping our communities safe and these funds will help these departments carry out their life-saving work.â€
The JCFD will receive $6,693,300 from the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant, $1,129,090.90 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant and an additional $1 million from the Port Security Grant Program.
All three grants come from the Department of Homeland Security, which will allow the JCFD to staff an additional 54 firefighters over the next three years, the city announced today.
“For the first time in JCFD history, we were selected to receive three grants from DHS in a single year, which will continue to help us reach our ultimate goal of providing the utmost quality protection to our residents while keeping our brave men and women safe,†Fire Chief Steven McGill said in a statement.
“With these grants, the federal government is acknowledging our growing needs as Jersey City continues to see positive growth; increasing the number of people and structures we are sworn to protect.â€
Additionally, NHRF&R, who serves Union City, Weehawken, North Bergen, West New York and Guttenberg, has been bestowed a $1,029,087.27 AFG Grant.
“Day after day, New Jersey’s firefighters go above and beyond to keep our families and communities safe,†added U.S. Senator Menendez (D-NJ).
“In return, we must fully invest in our fire departments to ensure they are sufficiently staffed and that our men and women are properly trained and equipped with the tools they need to keep us safe.â€
