Congressman Stephen F. Lynch announced today that the Town of Milton has been awarded a Fire Grant from the Department of Homeland Security and United States Fire Administration (USFA).  The federally-funded award, in the amount of $97,550, will be used to purchase new protective turnout gear for Milton firefighters.

 

Milton is the first community in the Ninth Congressional District to receive an award in Fiscal Year 2005.  Congressman Lynch also helped Milton to secure a Fire Grant in 2003 for $110,178 to purchase and install a new communications and dispatch center.

 

Funded by Congress, the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is designed to increase the effectiveness of firefighting operations, firefighter health and safety programs, new fire apparatus, EMS programs, and Fire Prevention and Safety Programs.  The total of all FY 2005 awards will represent a $650 million investment to enhance fire and EMS service delivery throughout the United States.

 

Congressman Lynch said, "This grant is some good news for the Town of Milton.  Chief Malcolm Larson put a strong case forward to Homeland Security officials and it’s obvious they recognized his department’s hard work and commitment to the people they’ve sworn to protect.  I realize that the state budget situation is very difficult right now and we continue to work with State Representative Walter Timilty and our entire Milton Delegation at the State House to come up with ways to get us through these tough economic times.  I hope that by directing these federal dollars toward local public safety needs, we will provide some relief to the local tax base.”

Chief Malcolm Larson said, "With the present budget conditions that many fire departments are under in Massachusetts, these types of grants are critical for firefighter safety, the protection of the public and our homeland security efforts.”

More than 20,000 fire departments - volunteer and career - applied for grant awards this year, submitting requests totaling almost $3 billion. A lengthy peer review, involving 300 fire service representatives from throughout the United States, was conducted by the USFA over the past several months.  Milton was one of just twenty-six fire departments in Massachusetts to be selected in this round of awards. 

Congressman Lynch has been working closely with each of the cities and towns in the Ninth Congressional District on their applications for federal grants under the Fire Act, and additional funding for first responders made available after September 11^th.  Lynch added, "Milton’s commitment to providing its firefighters with state-of-the art equipment and training and the town’s cooperation with regional emergency officials have made them an ideal candidate for homeland security funding.  But it’s been the leadership of Chief Larson at the Fire Department and Chief Mearn at the Police Department that has made Milton so successful at securing these funds.”

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